US extradition request – Official Secrets Act prompted destruction of books – Special Branch Chief tells court

Senior Superintendent of Police Prem Narine on Monday told the court that he destroyed three books containing notes related to his duties involving United States (US) sanctioned and indicted Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed and his father, Nazar Mohamed, because he believed doing so was part of his obligation under the Official Secrets Act of the United Kingdom (UK). The UK Official Secrets Act is legislation aimed at protecting sensitive Government information by making certain unauthorised disclosures and the improper handling or retention of protected official documents criminal offences.

Narine, Head of the Guyana Police Force’s (GPF) Special Branch Unit, made the disclosure while under cross-examination by Defence Attorney Siand Dhurjon during the ongoing extradition proceedings against the Mohameds before Chief Magistrate Judy Latchman. Dhurjon questioned Narine about the books he had previously acknowledged destroying by fire. Narine identified one of them as his personal diary containing personal notes, while referring to the other two as books in which he made records. The defence questioned Narine about the nature of the information he recorded in the books and whether he would only make entries about matters he considered important. Narine disagreed, telling the court: “In those books, I would have recorded anything, be it important or not important, once I feel the need to.” Dhurjon then questioned Narine about whether, as part of his police duties, he was required to record anything said by a person before, during or after an arrest. Narine said: “I don’t think it’s a duty to write down once I can recall what that person says.”

Narine was also questioned about the obligation he believed he would have breached had he retained the documents. Asked what he understood that obligation to be, he said: “I understand that I sign a declaration to keep … the nation’s secret.” The testimony came as Dhurjon continued to challenge Narine over the destruction of the books and his record-keeping practices as a police officer. The extradition proceedings will continue at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Courts today, with further cross-examination of Narine set to resume. According to Narine’s testimony on September 10, three books were destroyed in January 2026. He said he shredded them with a machine and then personally burned the shredded material at the Special Branch compound, in an area near a condemned furnace. He said he remained there until he was satisfied the material had been completely destroyed. The GPF later issued a clarification saying the destroyed material consisted of personal working notes that Narine had used while preparing his statement. The Police said the notes contained no information of evidential value and that relevant information had already been incorporated into his statement. It also said the notes were disposed of in an official incinerator under established procedures. Azruddin Mohamed and his father are facing extradition proceedings in Guyana after the US formally requested their surrender in October 2025. A US federal grand jury in Florida indicted the two men on allegations including wire and mail fraud, money laundering, conspiracy and customs violations linked to an alleged US$50 million gold export and tax-evasion scheme. US prosecutors allege that the men evaded taxes and royalties on more than 10,000 kilogrammes (kg) of gold through falsified customs declarations and reused export seals.