–says no one poses a greater national security threat than Azruddin Mohamed

SENIOR Superintendent of Police Prem Narine, on Tuesday told the court that information in his possession suggests Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed is involved in murders, including execution-style killings, torture, beating of employees and bribery.

He made the disclosure as cross-examination continued in the extradition proceedings against Mohamed and his father, Nazar Mohamed, before Chief Magistrate Judy Latchman.

Narine, Head of the Special Branch unit, was being questioned by defence attorney Siand Dhurjon, who returned to the senior police officer’s earlier evidence that he considers the younger Mohamed a threat to national security.

Dhurjon asked Narine directly whether he believed the opposition leader was a threat to national security. “Yes, I do believe so,” Narine replied. When asked why he held that view, Narine said: “I have information. It suggests that he’s involved in murders.” Dhurjon then sought to clarify the other allegations contained in the information Narine was referring to.

Narine identified “murders, torture, execution-style killings, beating of employees, bribery.” Dhurjon asked whether that was all. Narine said, “I think that’s it.”

When asked again whether that was all he could recall, Narine responded: “That’s all I can recall at this time.” Dhurjon then questioned whether Narine was saying that Azruddin had committed all of the offences he had listed.

Asked whether he was in possession of information that Azruddin had done “all of these things,” Narine answered: “Yes, sir.”

Narine also told the court that intelligence held by the Special Branch links Azruddin Mohamed to several alleged execution-style killings, including three people who were killed when a vessel exploded.

In outlining the other alleged incidents, Narine referred to a man known as “Pet Boy,” whose stepson was allegedly killed, and the alleged attempted murder of Regan Rodrigues.

He said there had been at least two attempts on Rodrigues’ life and also referred to another alleged killing, the details of which he said he could not recall.

The defence attorney then shifted to the source and institutional possession of the information.

Dhurjon pointed out that Narine had one job as a police officer and asked whether when he referred to having the information, he meant that the Special Branch had it.

After a brief pause, Narine confirmed: “Special Branch has the information.”

Dhurjon then asked whether if the Special Branch had the information, that meant that the Guyana Police Force also had it. “Yes, sir,” Narine answered.

The defence subsequently questioned Narine about the National Security Council.
Narine confirmed that he is not a member of that entity. When Dhurjon asked who represents the Guyana Police Force on the council, Narine identified the commissioner of police.

The questioning then returned to the investigations underpinning Narine’s assertions about Azruddin.

Dhurjon asked whether Narine had personally investigated the matters he had just spoken about, or whether he had personally played a role in some of them.

Narine answered yes, confirming that he had personally played some role in the investigations.

Dhurjon then asked specifically which offences Narine had investigated.
“Murders,” Narine replied.

The senior police officer had previously told the court that he considered Azruddin Mohamed a threat to society and national security, based on intelligence available to him.

During cross-examination on Tuesday, the defence counsel suggested that if Narine regarded Azruddin Mohamed as the “greatest threat” to national security at this time, his objective as a police officer would be to get rid of that threat.

The senior cop responded that any such action would be taken “by all legal means possible.”

The extradition hearing will continue on September 28 and 29 at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts, with further cross-examination of Narine expected.

The defence has been challenging the basis, source and nature of the intelligence relied upon by Narine in reaching those conclusions.

The extradition case stems from a request by the United States for the surrender of the Mohameds to face an 11-count federal indictment. The indictment includes allegations of wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, conspiracy and customs offences.

U.S. prosecutors alleged that the two businessmen participated in a multi-year scheme involving the export of Guyana gold using falsified customs declarations and reused government export seals, allegedly resulting in the evasion of more than US$50 million in taxes and royalties.

The indictment also concerns a Lamborghini vehicle, with prosecutors alleging that Azruddin caused the vehicle to be shipped from Miami to Guyana and used a false invoice that understated its purchase price, resulting in more than US$1 million in allegedly avoided Guyanese taxes. The Mohameds have denied the allegations.

The two men were arrested on October 31, 2025, and each was granted $150,000 bail, with conditions requiring them to surrender their passports and report to the Ruimveldt Police Station. The committal proceedings commenced on January 6, 2026, but have been repeatedly interrupted by the various legal challenges filed by the defence.

The Mohameds were sanctioned by the U.S. Department of the Treasury in 2024 over allegations of corruption and a gold-smuggling scheme and were subsequently indicted by U.S. federal grand jury on related charges.