By: Travis Chase | HGP Nightly News|
HOUSTON, EAST BANK DEMERARA — In a move that has sent shockwaves through the Guyanese political landscape, ranks of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) descended on the Houston residence of Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed early Tuesday morning, May 5, 2026. Under direct orders from the high command, officers seized five personal firearms belonging to the businessman and his father, Nazar Mohamed, citing the nearly two-year-old U.S. OFAC sanctions as the legal catalyst.
The operation has sparked immediate and fierce accusations of “vindictive political victimization” from the Mohamed family and the wider opposition.
The Operation: Houston Residence Raid
The seizure took place around 10:00 hrs on Tuesday, led by Inspectors L. Blair McGregor and T. Hinds, acting on instructions from Deputy Commissioner of Police Simon McBean.
- The Weapons Seized:
- Azruddin Mohamed: One 5.56 mm (.223) rifle, one Glock .45 caliber pistol, and one 12-gauge shotgun.
- Nazar Mohamed: One .32 revolver and one 12-gauge shotgun.
- The “Show Cause” Order: Along with the seizure, both men were served with letters requiring them to “show cause” in writing why their firearm licenses should not be permanently revoked under Section 18 (8) (a) of the Firearms Act.
- The Justification: The GPF correspondence cited “serious allegations” stemming from a U.S. indictment in the Southern District of Florida, which includes conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud, and money laundering.
“The Last Straw”: Mohamed Slams Political Directives
Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed did not mince words, describing the morning’s events as an escalation of a state-sponsored campaign to leave his family defenseless.
- Broken Promises: Mohamed claimed that following the initial June 2024 sanctions, President Irfaan Ali had personally assured his father that the state would not target their personal firearms. “We were sanctioned since 2024… Jagdeo himself said there was no need to seize personal weapons because the security firearms were related to the business,” Mohamed argued.
- Vulnerability: He emphasized that as the Leader of the Opposition who traverses the country daily, the seizure leaves him exposed. “I am scared for my life. Every day I have Special Branch following me… this was my last straw.”
- The Irony of Protection: In a striking accusation, Mohamed noted that the very firearms being seized are the ones that were once used to provide private protection for senior functionaries within the current governing PPP/C administration.
Institutional Fallout and Previous Seizures
Tuesday’s raid marks the second major disarmament of the Mohamed family. In April 2025, the police suspended the license for Mohamed’s private security firm, leading to the seizure of approximately 70 firearms.
- The 20-Year Record: Nazar Mohamed expressed deep disappointment, stating that the family has held firearm licenses for over 20 years without a single breach or inappropriate incident.
- Extradition Context: The seizure comes while the Mohameds are actively contesting a U.S. extradition request. Their legal team argues that the sudden urgency to seize personal weapons—nearly two years after the sanctions were first imposed—is timed to coincide with their rising political profile and the upcoming elections.
A Dictatorship Narrative
As the police departed the Houston residence with the confiscated hardware, Azruddin Mohamed declared, “No one is safe under this dictatorship.” While the GPF maintains they are simply following a legal framework necessitated by the U.S. indictment, the timing—occurring on Arrival Day—has provided the opposition with a potent narrative of state overreach. The Mohameds have been given a window to respond in writing, but for now, the leader of the nation’s largest opposition party finds himself without the means for personal protection.
