In a surprising turn in one of Guyana’s most closely watched legal battles, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) on Thursday abruptly withdrew its billion-dollar tax evasion case against prominent gold dealers Nazar and Azruddin Mohamed, ending all local tax-related proceedings even as the father-son duo continues to face serious U.S. criminal charges.
The decision was announced on the morning of November 6, when the Mohameds appeared before Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court. In a brief statement to the court, the GRA’s prosecutor said the agency would no longer pursue the extensive tax dispute, offering no initial explanation for the withdrawal.
The discontinued charges stemmed from a GRA audit covering the years 2020 to 2024, which accused Mohamed’s Enterprise of filing false income tax returns in violation of Section 110(1)(a) of the Income Tax Act. Investigators alleged that the business underreported more than $34 billion in income, creating a tax liability estimated at $191 billion — one of the largest tax cases ever brought in the country.
Although the withdrawal ends all domestic tax proceedings, it does not shield the Mohameds from international scrutiny. The pair remain under U.S. indictment, following sanctions imposed by the U.S. Treasury Department in 2024. American authorities accuse them of gold smuggling, fraud, and money laundering, alleging that their schemes deprived Guyana of roughly US$50 million in gold export taxes.
Later in the day, the GRA issued a formal statement explaining its reversal. According to the agency, the charges filed on October 24, 2025, pre-dated the United States’ request for the Mohameds’ extradition. Once that request was received, the Government of Guyana decided to proceed with the extradition process, and the GRA concluded that — considering principles of international comity, fairness, and legal appropriateness — it was necessary to withdraw the local charges.
The sudden retreat has ignited widespread public debate, with citizens, legal observers, and political commentators questioning why a case of such magnitude was dropped with little warning. Online speculation continues to mount as the Mohameds prepare to fight extradition to the United States, where they face a far more complex set of allegations.
For now, the GRA’s unexpected move has added yet another twist to a saga that continues to captivate the nation, raising new questions about Guyana’s legal priorities at a time of intense international pressure.
By FCCT Editorial Team
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