Guyanese businessman facing US extradition elected opposition leader

Azruddin Mohamed, a Guyanese businessman facing extradition to the US on gold smuggling and money laundering charges, has been elected as Guyana's opposition leader. This occurred six months after Mohamed formed the We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party, which quickly became the second largest in the country. Mohamed's election was secured by votes from WIN lawmakers and another party, making WIN the second-largest party in parliament. Mohamed and his father were indicted in Florida last year on federal charges related to gold smuggling and money laundering, following US Treasury Department sanctions for allegedly smuggling gold and evading taxes. The case has highlighted concerns about government corruption in Guyana. Mohamed claims the extradition efforts are politically motivated due to WIN's opposition to the ruling party.

Explore how the topics in this article connect to other news stories