U.S. Ambassador to Guyana, Nicole Theriot, affirmed on Wednesday that the United States government is “100% committed” to extraditing businessman Nazar Mohamed and his son Azruddin. The formal extradition request, signed by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio late last year, underscores the seriousness of the case.
“The U.S. government does not spend tens of thousands of taxpayer dollars to request extradition if we’re not serious,” Theriot stated during the Guyana Energy Conference at the Marriott hotel in Georgetown. She emphasized the desire to see justice served for both Guyanese and American citizens.
The case has garnered significant national and international attention and has faced multiple adjournments in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, most recently due to Nazar Mohamed’s ill health and procedural issues raised by the defense.
Theriot described the matter as “incredibly important” to the United States and expressed her trust in the judicial process, asserting that Washington respects Guyana’s legal system and is not seeking to influence proceedings.
“We have to be respectful of the Guyanese judicial system… this ball is in your court,” she commented, expressing confidence that the right decision would ultimately be made.
Additionally, Theriot noted that the U.S. government is closely monitoring the situation: “We’re watching from afar. We’re not interfering, but we’re very, very interested in the outcome, and we’re fully committed.”
Nazar and Azruddin Mohamed have faced scrutiny from U.S. authorities for several years. In 2022, the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctioned them for alleged involvement in public corruption, including bribery of government officials. These sanctions barred U.S. entities from engaging in business with them and froze any assets within U.S. jurisdiction.
In 2024, both men were formally indicted on multiple financial crime charges, including money laundering. Extradition proceedings were subsequently initiated through Guyana’s courts.
Azruddin Mohamed, who currently serves as the Leader of the Opposition in Guyana, has consistently denied any wrongdoing, as has his father, Nazar Mohamed.
