Guyana

Guyana is a South American country currently in the news for several reasons. Recently, Azruddin Mohamed, a Guyanese businessman facing extradition to the US on gold-smuggling and money-laundering charges, was elected as the country’s opposition leader. This is significant because he formed a political party just six months prior, which quickly became the second largest in the country. Guyana is also involved in a joint cross-border operation with Brazil, French Guiana, and Suriname, targeting illegal gold mining in the Amazon region. Furthermore, a crude oil tanker, the Veronica, sailing under a Guyanese flag, was seized by the US military in the Caribbean Sea as part of sanctions against Venezuela. The country's flag being associated with a vessel involved in international sanctions adds to its current relevance.