Latest update February 13th, 2026 12:30 AM
Police release video of alleged illegal cambio, Mohamed insists ‘operation closed’
(Kaieteur News) – The Guyana Police Force (GPF) on Thursday released video footage dated February 11, 2026, which it says shows an illegal cambio operation being conducted at Mohamed’s Enterprise at 29 Lombard Street, Georgetown. The premises was raided on Wednesday morning by members of the Special Organised Crime Unit (SOCU), an arm of the GPF.
Notwithstanding the video footage, businessman and Leader of the Opposition Azruddin Mohamed has maintained his earlier position, that the premises has been closed since 2024, when he, his father Nazar Mohamed and their businesses were sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) over alleged gold smuggling.
According to the video seen by this publication, an individual recording entered the premises where a man behind the counter collected foreign currency and exchanged it for local currency.
A screenshot of the video footage released by the police dated February 11, 2026, showing the alleged operation at the business.
SOCU had disclosed that ranks conducted a targeted joint law enforcement operation at the money exchange location after receiving credible information that illicit activities were taking place there. “During the course of the operation, officers uncovered evidence of illegal financial operations and additional materials believed to be connected to unlawful activities were recovered at the location. All items seized are currently subject to active forensic and financial investigation,” SOCU said. Several persons were also arrested and SOCU had stated that charges will be laid shortly.
In a statement on Thursday, GPF said the cambio establishment associated with the Mohameds had been formally ordered closed pursuant to sanctions imposed by the United States Government and corresponding local regulatory and enforcement actions. It noted that despite this directive, the police said the establishment continued conducting foreign exchange transactions in breach of the closure order.
Responding to public remarks by Azruddin Mohamed denying that the cambio was operational, the police stated, “The footage clearly shows and audibly records the exchange of local and foreign currency, confirming that business transactions were actively taking place.”
Mohamed’s Enterprise.
When contacted on Thursday, Mohamed reiterated his position that the operation remains closed. “Yes, of course, of course,” he said noting that he stick by his position that the business has not been operating. He added, “That video shows absolutely nothing. As I mentioned, if we were operating a combio, you have to have large sums of cash. They came there they found, a million or $2 million in cash. Those money were staple up in envelopes. They found 500 US dollars…and as I have mentioned, we are not operating there.”
Following the raid, Mohamed had told reporters, “They didn’t find anything, they didn’t find any drugs, they didn’t find any large amount of money. All they found was a couple thousands…I think it’s less than 2 million, less than 2 million, with a lot of envelopes with $5000 inside, $10,000, $15,000, because we will normally staple envelopes to help the less fortunate.”
The businessman-turned-politician has contended that the search was politically motivated, linking it to remarks he made during his recent budget presentation in the National Assembly, where he claimed to have financially supported the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) between 2015 and 2020.
He had previously noted that following the sanctions, their local bank accounts were closed, their cambio licence revoked and their gold operations ceased, with the exception of a small snackette located in front of the Lombard Street building.
Last year, the father and son were indicted in a United States federal court in Miami, Florida, on 11 charges, including wire fraud, mail fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering and the importation of a Lamborghini luxury vehicle, stemming from allegations of massive tax fraud committed against Guyana. They are currently challenging a U.S. extradition request in the local courts.
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