Spy chief says can’t remember who ordered Mohameds’ extradition

(Kaieteur News) – Head of the Guyana Police Force’s Special Branch, Senior Superintendent Prem Narine, admitted in court on Monday that he could not remember who instructed him to execute extradition proceedings against billionaire businessmen Nazar “Shell” Mohamed and his son, Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed, while simultaneously declaring the younger Mohamed a threat to national security.

The extradition hearing before Chief Magistrate Judy Latchman centers on a request from the United States, where the Mohameds face charges of alleged wire fraud, mail fraud, and money laundering tied to their gold trading operations. The defense team, including attorney Siand Dhurjon, is seeking to establish that the extradition process is politically motivated and being weaponised by the Guyanese government against political opponents.

During cross-examination, Narine, the head of the state’s intelligence arm, colloquially known as the “spy chief”, acknowledged that under police standing orders, Special Branch is tasked with state stability and national security matters rather than standard criminal investigations, which fall under the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).