Intelligence chief tells court opposition leader is a “threat to national security”
September 7 2026
In continuing to give his testimony before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on Monday, Head of the Guyana Police Force’s Special Branch, Senior Superintendent Prem Narine, labeled Leader of the Opposition Azruddin Mohamed a ‘direct threat to national security and society’.
The statement came during cross-examination by defence attorney Siand Dhurjon, as the court continued hearing extradition proceedings involving Leader of the Opposition Azruddin Mohamed and his father, businessman Nazar “Shell” Mohamed. The United States government is seeking the extradition of both men to face federal charges of wire fraud, mail fraud, and money laundering tied to their gold trading operations.
Defence counsel sought to persuade Chief Magistrate Judy Latchman that the extradition request is politically motivated, alleging the state has weaponized the process against political dissidents.
“Capable of Anything”
Under questioning regarding previous public remarks made by President Irfaan Ali about the younger Mohamed, Narine testified that while he was unaware of specific presidential comments, his own intelligence findings led him to his conclusion.
“Standing here now, based on the information I have, I would consider him a threat to national security,” Narine told the court, adding that he considers Mohamed “a threat to society.” The declaration follows testimony from Friday’s hearing, in which the intelligence chief described Mohamed as a “dangerous person” who is “capable of anything.”
Defence attorney Dhurjon immediately challenged the assessment, accusing the Special Branch chief of harbouring a political bias against his client.
The hearing opened with Dhurjon questioning how the police intelligence arm became involved in an extradition process, a task typically outside its standard mandate.
Narine admitted that under standing orders, Special Branch is not responsible for investigating or prosecuting ordinary criminal offences, which are usually handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).
While Special Branch focuses on matters affecting state stability, such as sedition, sabotage, and violations of the Official Secrets Act, Narine rejected the defence’s characterization of these as “political offences.”
Narine further revealed that he personally collected the two arrest warrants for the Mohameds from the Attorney General’s Chambers. However, he admitted he could not explain how the documents arrived there or who prepared them, acknowledging he had never encountered an extradition matter involving the Attorney General’s Chambers in his career.
Dhurjon pressed the intelligence chief on who directed him to take action on October 31, 2025, suggesting Narine received direct orders from President Ali to execute the arrests ahead of a scheduled sitting of Parliament.
Narine rejected the accusation.
“Definitely not, because an instruction from the President is a privilege and something that I would remember,” Narine testified, adding that police officers are under no obligation to follow an illegal order.
While he denied receiving instructions tied to the parliamentary schedule, Narine acknowledged receiving a “general instruction” to act as events unfolded, though he repeatedly maintained that he could not recall specifically which superior officer whether the Police Commissioner, Crime Chief, or Division Commander issued the directive.
When Dhurjon accused the intelligence chief of exercising “selective memory” and being dishonest with the court, Narine firmly denied the charge, stating the allegation was “entirely wrong.”
The defence team maintains that the state’s handling of the warrants and the unusual involvement of Special Branch highlight a political dimension intended to sideline an opposition figure.
Later in the afternoon, both defence and prosecution legal teams were slated to present legal authorities to Chief Magistrate Latchman. The extradition hearing continues.
