America “patiently waiting” to extradite Mohameds – U.S. Ambassador

Mar 31, 2026 Court Journal, News

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…believes father-son duo guilty of crimes

(Kaieteur News) – United States Ambassador to Guyana, Nicole Theriot, said the U.S. is patiently awaiting the outcome of ongoing court proceedings in Guyana before moving forward with the extradition of sanctioned businessmen Azruddin Mohamed and his father, Nazar.

Theriot said the United States stands ready to act immediately should the local courts rule in favour of extradition. “We are ready today. If the magistrate made a decision today, we would move forward with the process,” she said, while emphasising that the timeline remains entirely in the hands of the Guyanese judiciary.

The ambassador also firmly rejected claims that the extradition request is politically motivated, stressing that the case is based solely on legal grounds and supported by substantial evidence.

The Mohameds are currently facing a federal indictment in Miami, United States, following the unsealing of a 25-page document on October 30, 2025. The request seeks their extradition to answer to an 11-count indictment involving allegations of large-scale fraud, money laundering, customs violations, bribery, and the evasion of millions of dollars in taxes and royalties linked to gold exports.

Acting on a formal request from U.S. authorities, the minister signed the ATP, initiating the extradition process. Should sufficient evidence be presented during the committal proceedings, the magistrate could order their extradition to face the charges abroad.

Court proceedings, which began on October 31, 2025, have been ongoing, including the cross-examination of the prosecution’s first witness, Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Sharon Roopchand-Edwards. However, on March 24, the case was adjourned for 12 days after Azruddin Mohamed was diagnosed with dengue fever, with hearings initially set to resume on April 7.

That timeline has since been extended to April 21 following a ruling by the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), allowing time for arguments before the region’s highest court. The state’s case is expected to be led by Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall, SC.

Since the start of the extradition proceedings, the Mohameds have argued that the request is politically driven. They claim the move is linked to Azruddin Mohamed’s recent entry into politics, having formed his own party just months before elections and now serving as opposition leader.

During court hearings, their lawyers contended that the Authority to Proceed was granted with bias, alleging that political rivalry influenced the decision.

However, speaking on the programme SOURCES, Ambassador Theriot addressed questions about the timeline and what Washington realistically expects, particularly in light of the recent delay in the case.

She emphasised that the process is now entirely in the hands of the Guyanese courts. “Well, it is in your court, and I think that’s the key point. It is a process. We’ve done our part, and now it’s with your court,” she said.

Theriot noted that the United States has no set expectations or timelines for the outcome. “We don’t have an expectation or a timeline, because it’s not ours to control. When the decision is made, we will proceed from there,” she explained.

She added that the U.S. is fully prepared to act immediately once a ruling is handed down. “We are ready today. If the magistrate made a decision today, we would move forward with the process. But that is not within our control, and so we are patiently waiting to see what happens,” she said.

She also dismissed the claims of any political motivation behind the extradition, emphasizing that it is based on legal grounds.  Theriot reiterated that the United States does not pursue criminal cases for political reasons, but only when there is strong, unequivocal evidence.

“We firmly believe they are guilty of the crimes for which they have been indicted,” she said. “This matter is now in the hands of the Guyanese judiciary, and we are prepared to move forward once a decision is made.”

Theriot also cautioned against any potential instability arising from the case, expressing hope that the legal process would be respected and understood as lawful rather than political.

“We’re simply holding people that we believe are guilty of a crime accountable for that crime. And to be fair, it’s not just the United States taxpayers that were defrauded. I mean, let’s be clear about that. I hope that is not the case, and I hope people will understand that things are being done by the book, based on the law, and it’s not politically, certainly not politically motivated from our side.” The ambassador added, “It’s the US government’s indictment, the government of Guyana did not indict the Mohamed’s, and I can assure you that there’s nothing political about it from the US side.”

However, if the extradition does not proceed, the Mohameds will remain sanctioned under U.S. law, according to Theriot.

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• Azruddin Mohamed, Extradite, Mohameds, Nicole Theriot, sanctioned

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