Foreign Affairs PS says she has no knowledge of lobbyists being hired to push Mohameds’ extradition

March 13 2026

The extradition proceedings involving businessmen Nazar Mohamed and Azruddin Mohamed continued on Thursday before the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts.

The Permanent Secretary (PS) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Sharon Roopchand-Edwards, told the court she had no knowledge that United States lobbying firms were hired to assist with the extradition process.

Roopchand-Edwards was recalled to the witness stand by prosecutors as their first witness in the case now before Principal Magistrate Judy Latchman. The hearing arises from a request by the United States seeking the extradition of the two Guyanese businessmen.

During several hours of questioning by defence attorney Siand Dhurjon, the Permanent Secretary was asked about the government’s relationship with two United States-based lobbying firms and whether those companies had been engaged to help advance the extradition request involving the Mohameds.

Azruddin and Nazar Mohamed

She acknowledged that the Government of Guyana has contracts with Continental Strategy LLC and DR Consulting. However, she maintained that she was not involved in the arrangements and could not say what specific tasks the firms were hired to perform.

When Dhurjon asked whether she knew the purpose for which the firms were retained, she responded that she did not.

The defence attorney also questioned whether she knew who within the government was responsible for communicating with the lobbying firms or directing their work. Roopchand-Edwards told the court she could not identify the individuals responsible.

Dhurjon then suggested that the firms may have been engaged to ensure that the extradition request submitted by the United States for Nazar Mohamed and Azruddin Mohamed was processed smoothly by the Guyanese authorities.

The PS rejected the suggestion, stating she had no knowledge of such instructions.

The court also heard suggestions from the defence that a contract with Continental Strategy LLC may have been executed in December 2024 by Roopchand Edwards’ predecessor at the ministry, the late Elisabeth Harper.

The Permanent Secretary told the court she had no knowledge of who entered into the agreement or when it was executed.

Although she agreed that lobbying firms in the United States often act on behalf of governments in matters involving foreign relations or policy matters, Roopchand-Edwards said she had no information indicating that the firms were instructed to handle matters relating to the extradition proceedings.

The defence also questioned the witness about how the official extradition request from the United States was delivered to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Roopchand-Edwards testified that the documents arrived on October 30, 2025 and that she reviewed them shortly after they were brought to her by a marshal.

According to her testimony, the envelope containing the documents was not sealed when it was delivered.

“The white envelope was not sealed,” she said, explaining that the marshal opened the envelope in her presence before handing her the contents.

She further explained that the materials were placed inside a folder containing what she described as the relevant documentation associated with the extradition request.

During the afternoon session, the Permanent Secretary was further questioned by defence attorney Senior Counsel Roysdale Forde about a written statement she gave during the course of the investigation.

Roopchand-Edwards confirmed that she prepared a statement on November 27, 2025. She told the court that the document was drafted with assistance from a legal officer at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Jamaican lawyer Herbert McKenzie, who forms part of the prosecution team.

When asked when she was first approached about giving the statement, she said she could not recall the exact date but believed it occurred several days before the document was prepared.

She also denied that the statement was prepared in anticipation of the extradition request. According to her explanation, anticipation would suggest she had advance knowledge that the request from the United States was coming.

After further questioning from the defence, the court adjourned the hearing with Roopchand Edwards expected to continue her testimony today when proceedings resume.

The extradition case stems from an indictment filed in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

The Mohameds face a total of 11 criminal charges. Ten of those counts are jointly brought against both men, while Azruddin Mohamed faces an additional allegation related to the importation of a luxury vehicle.

United States prosecutors allege that the charges stem from a scheme involving wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering and customs offences connected to the export of gold from Guyana to the United States.

Investigators claim the operation allowed large quantities of gold to be shipped while avoiding the payment of taxes and royalties owed to the Guyanese state, resulting in losses estimated at approximately US$50 million.

Nazar Mohamed, 72, and his 39-year-old son were arrested in Georgetown on October 31, 2025, one day after the extradition request was transmitted to the Guyanese authorities. The two men were later granted bail in the sum of $150,000 each.

As part of their bail conditions, they were required to surrender their passports and report weekly to the Ruimveldt Police Station while the extradition proceedings remain ongoing before the court.