President Dr. Irfaan Ali has issued a stark warning about the risks posed by U.S.-sanctioned businessman Azruddin Mohamed, declaring him a direct threat to Guyana’s national security, financial system, and vital diplomatic relationships—particularly with the United States.
In a series of public statements and media engagements, President Ali emphasized that the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) imposed sanctions on Mohamed and his businesses for serious offenses, including gold smuggling, tax evasion, and alleged involvement in drug trafficking. According to U.S. authorities, Mohamed’s Enterprise and related companies evaded over US$50 million in duty taxes between 2019 and 2023 by under-declaring gold exports.
President Ali underscored that these sanctions are not ordinary and have immediate, far-reaching consequences for Guyana. Local banks and insurance companies have ceased transactions with Mohamed and his enterprises, reflecting the systemic risks he poses to the country’s financial infrastructure. The President stated, “He is a risk to our financial system. Ask the commercial banks why they cannot conduct financial transactions with him. Ask the insurance companies why they cannot conduct transactions with him. Ask the persons who rented his buildings why they had to exit his buildings and not conduct financial transactions with him.”
Beyond financial concerns, Ali highlighted the broader diplomatic implications. He warned that Mohamed’s status as a sanctioned individual threatens the integrity of Guyana’s international partnerships, especially with the U.S.—a crucial ally in defending Guyana’s sovereignty amid ongoing tensions with Venezuela. “Our diplomacy is linked to the defence of our sovereignty and territorial integrity. In those sanctions, the US government has made it very clear that the US Government or agencies or businesses cannot conduct business with him. So, is he a threat to our diplomacy? Yes,” Ali asserted.
The President also addressed attempts by Mohamed and his supporters to frame the sanctions as political victimization, firmly rejecting those claims and clarifying that the investigations and actions against Mohamed predate his political ambitions. Ali labeled Mohamed a “political lightweight” and insisted that the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) is not threatened by his candidacy.
President Ali’s statements come amid heightened scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers, with concerns that Mohamed’s activities could undermine Guyana’s stability and its relationship with key international partners. The government has engaged U.S. lobbying firms to ensure American officials are fully informed about threats to Guyana’s security, particularly as the country navigates its most pressing challenge: defending its borders and sovereignty against Venezuelan claims.
In summary, President Ali has made it clear that Azruddin Mohamed is viewed as a significant risk to Guyana’s financial system, natural resource management, and, most critically, its diplomatic standing with the United States and other allies.
