By Travis Chase | HGP Nightly News |
GEORGETOWN, GUYANA — Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed has confirmed that the Guyana Police Force (GPF) has returned his seized personal electronic devices and documents, but continues to hold a humanitarian vessel and a motor vehicle taken into state custody during recent police operations.
Mohamed made the disclosure as he re-established an online presence following the sudden disappearance and deactivation of the official Team Mohamed’s Facebook platform, which commanded hundreds of thousands of followers.
Return of Personal Effects and Continued Seizures
Addressing the public via social media, the Opposition Leader stated that investigators formally returned his cellular phones, personal laptop, and confiscated documentation around 5:00 PM on Wednesday, September 9, 2026:
- Detained Vessel: Mohamed revealed that law enforcement ranks continue to hold a maritime vessel and one motor vehicle impounded during the crackdown.
- Humanitarian Record: Mohamed maintained that the detained boat has been operating in Guyana for roughly 13 years, serving primarily as a transport vessel for medical outreaches, regional flood relief missions, community charity drives, and political outreach across riverine communities.
- No Explanation for Continued Seizure: The Opposition Leader criticized the police administration for failing to provide any legal justification or formal timeline explaining why the vessel remains impounded or under what statutory authority it is being held.
“The boat and one vehicle remain in custody,” Mohamed disclosed. “That vessel has been in Guyana for approximately 13 years and has been used continuously for humanitarian and political activities across riverine communities. Up to now, there is no explanation, no update, and no indication as to how long it will remain detained.”
Release of Staff Members and Allegations Over Facebook Page Deletion
The return of Mohamed’s personal electronics followed the release of three key members of his operational staff who had been held in police custody for approximately 72 hours:
- Staff Release: Videographer Dwayne Ross, along with staff members Eugene Thorne and Mario Mohamed, were released from police holding facilities after enduring three days of detention following their interception on the West Coast of Demerara. Ross was previously placed on $600,000 bail in the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on three drone-related summary charges.
- Allegations of Digital Sabotage: Addressing the abrupt disruption of his primary communications platform, Mohamed alleged that the Team Mohamed’s Facebook page was deliberately taken down or deleted by police while his administrative devices were in their physical possession.
- Vow to Maintain Public Voice: While characterizing the loss of the social media page as a calculated operational setback designed to dismantle his public communications infrastructure, Mohamed declared that the measures would not intimidate or silence his political advocacy.
Backdrop of the Leonora Drone Investigation
The seizure of Mohamed’s electronic equipment, vehicles, and maritime assets stems from the ongoing probe into the alleged operation of a drone near President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali’s private residence in Leonora, West Coast Demerara.
The investigation has sparked legal challenges, with retired Assistant Commissioner of Police Paul Slowe publicly criticizing the Force’s shifting justifications and questioning the legal basis for the arrests, while defence attorneys challenge the validity of the drone-related charges before the courts.
