‘I Am Fearful for My Life and My Family’: Special Branch Chief Prem Narine Speaks Out Amid Mohamed Extradition Fallout and Assassination Allegations

By Travis Chase | HGP Nightly News |

GEORGETOWN, GUYANA — In an unprecedented public disclosure by the head of the state’s primary domestic intelligence apparatus, Senior Superintendent of Police Prem Narine, Head of the Guyana Police Force’s Special Branch, has declared that he is fearful for his life and deeply alarmed for the safety of his family amid escalating tensions surrounding the United States extradition proceedings against Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed and his father, Nazar Mohamed.

Speaking with reporters outside the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court, where he has been undergoing rigorous cross-examination as a key prosecution witness in the high-stakes extradition committal hearings, Narine disclosed that hostile targeting has expanded beyond his person to encompass close relatives, including targeted attacks on his brother and his brother’s commercial business.

The intelligence chief strongly rejected public characterizations branding him an “assassin” and a “murderer” following the contentious October 12 armed confrontation outside his Kitty residence—an incident Azruddin Mohamed has publicly characterized as a state-sponsored plot on his life. Narine insisted that his actions have been strictly grounded in the execution of his constitutional and professional duties as a senior law enforcement officer.

Family and Commercial Premises Targeted

Narine described the personal toll and security threats that have emerged since taking the witness stand in the extradition matter:

• Expanding Circle of Vulnerability: The Special Branch head stated that the public hostility and social media campaigns generated by the extradition proceedings have breached professional boundaries, spilling over into physical threats and personal attacks against his immediate family members.
• Attacks on Brother’s Enterprise: Narine revealed that intimidation tactics have specifically targeted his brother’s livelihood, noting that commercial premises operated by his brother have come under direct harassment and attack.
• Rejection of ‘Rogue Officer’ Label: Expressing profound frustration over being publicly labeled an assassin, Narine stressed that it is disheartening to see a career police officer vilified for performing intelligence gathering and executing statutory judicial warrants issued by the courts.

The October 12 Kitty Shooting: ‘Let the Court Decide the Facts’

Senior Superintendent Narine remains at the center of national controversy stemming from the October 12 confrontation outside his Barr Street, Kitty residence:

• The Conflicting Narratives: Azruddin Mohamed, along with his driver Eugene Thorne and videographer Mario Mohamed, were arrested and charged with unlawful firearm and ammunition possession and discharging a loaded firearm with intent to obstruct justice after passing Narine’s residence. Following the release of leaked Command Centre CCTV footage, Mohamed alleged that Narine opened fire indiscriminately and threatened his life, vowing to file private criminal charges against the senior officer.
• Refusal to Litigate in the Media: When questioned directly by reporters regarding Mohamed’s claims of an orchestrated assassination attempt, Narine firmly declined to litigate the specifics of the incident in the press, maintaining that the matter is subject to active criminal proceedings and judicial inquiry.
• Faith in the Judicial Process: Narine maintained that the full, unvarnished facts surrounding the armed encounter will be properly ventilated in a court of law rather than through partisan press conferences or public relations campaigns.

High-Stakes Extradition Climate

Narine’s public remarks underscore the volatility surrounding the extradition case against the Mohameds, who face an 11-count federal indictment in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida alleging mail fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering linked to a US$50 million gold-smuggling and tax evasion scheme:

• Key Witness Testimony: During cross-examination before Chief Magistrate Judy Latchman, Narine testified regarding the intelligence files, surveillance operations, and security assessments compiled by the Special Branch, describing the younger Mohamed as a threat to national security based on intelligence in his possession.
• Intimidation and Witness Protection: Prosecutors representing the United States Government—led by King’s Counsel Terrence Williams—previously raised concerns regarding threats directed at prosecution witnesses and judicial officers. Narine’s disclosure reinforces state concerns over witness tampering, safety risks, and interference with the administration of justice as substantive committal hearings continue.