MARAD cites legal and compliance risks in denying application from Azruddin Mohamed, who faces U.S. extradition on financial crime allegations.
Guyana’s Maritime Administration (MARAD) has made clear it will not issue a boat captain licence to city businessman and opposition leader Azruddin Mohamed, according to reporting from Demerara Waves. The agency’s position stems from Mohamed’s designation as a sanctioned individual by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control.
Mohamed and his father, Nazar “Shell” Mohamed, are currently fighting a U.S. extradition request to face trial on charges of wire fraud, mail fraud, and money laundering. The indictment followed their earlier sanctioning by American authorities for alleged evasion of more than US$50 million in taxes owed to the Guyana government on more than 10,000 ounces of gold. MARAD stated that any responsible public authority dealing with a sanctioned person must carefully weigh the legal, financial, banking, contractual, and compliance consequences of any proposed transaction.
Mohamed, who leads the opposition We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party, has claimed the licence denial represents political victimisation, arguing he submitted all required documentation while other applicants received approval. He also questioned whether his driver’s licence would be renewed upon expiration. MARAD countered that it must apply maritime safety rules uniformly regardless of wealth or political status, emphasizing that standards cannot be tightened for ordinary citizens while relaxed for politically powerful individuals.
The regulator also referenced a recent incident involving a vessel reportedly owned by Mohamed. According to MARAD, the fast craft was encountered at night travelling at high speed, failed to stop when signalled, and was pursued before interception by Joint Services authorities. MARAD stated these matters warrant investigation and should not be trivialised or used to attack the agency’s enforcement of maritime law.
Guyana has faced ongoing tensions between its government and opposition leadership, with questions about the application of regulatory authority and compliance with international sanctions regimes. The U.S. sanctions against the Mohamed family relate to alleged gold export tax evasion, a significant issue in a country where gold mining represents a major economic sector alongside oil production.
This case illustrates how U.S. sanctions and extradition frameworks affect Caribbean political and business figures, and the tensions that arise when international compliance obligations intersect with domestic political disputes. It also highlights the maritime regulatory challenges facing Caribbean nations managing both safety standards and international legal obligations.
Written & Edited by Orlyn Edwards. Published by Caribbean Air Force Media.
Category: News · Island routing: Guyana