-In high-stakes Mohameds’ extradition battle
-by Tracy Romalho
The United States is forcefully pushing back against claims of political interference in its explosive extradition case against Nazar and Azruddin Mohamed, insisting the charges are rooted in solid, undeniable evidence-not politics.
In a pointed interview with News Source, U.S. Ambassador Nicole Theriot made it clear: this is no speculative pursuit. According to her, American authorities are confident in their case and fully prepared to see it through.
Speaking with journalist Svetlana Marshall, Ambassador Theriot underscored that the case against the father-and-son duo is built on what she described as “strong, unequivocal evidence.” She dismissed suggestions of political influence, stressing that the extradition process is unfolding transparently and strictly within established legal channels.
“Why would we take on a case we don’t think we’re going to win – that’s just a waste of US taxpayers’ money. So, we firmly believe they’re guilty of the crimes they’re being indicted for,” she stated.
Despite mounting public scrutiny, the Ambassador noted that the matter now rests before Guyana’s courts, with U.S. authorities standing ready to act once legal hurdles are cleared. She also addressed rising concerns that the case could spark political instability in Guyana, an outcome she warned would be deeply unfortunate.
“I hope that destabilization doesn’t occur. That would be tragic because we’re simply holding people that we believe are guilty of a crime accountable for crimes. And to be fair it’s not just the United States taxpayers that were defrauded,” she said.
Meanwhile, the legal battle has taken another dramatic turn. The Caribbean Court of Justice has issued a stay on the extradition proceedings, halting the committal hearing currently underway in Georgetown’s Magistrates’ Court.
A critical date now looms: April 21, when the court will hear the Mohameds’ appeal, setting the stage for what could be a pivotal moment in this high-profile international case.
The Mohameds, who were sanctioned in 2024 by the U.S. Treasury Department over alleged involvement in illegal gold exports and money laundering, now face serious federal charges in Florida, the driving force behind the U.S. extradition request.