United States Ambassador to Guyana, Nicole Theriot, has confirmed that Washington is prepared to proceed immediately with the extradition of sanctioned businessman Azruddin Mohamed and his father, Nazar Mohamed, once Guyana’s courts reach a decision in the ongoing committal proceedings.

Speaking on NewsSource’s interview programme SOURCES, Theriot said the U.S. has no fixed timeline for the outcome, as the matter now rests entirely with the Guyanese judiciary.

“We are ready today. If the magistrate made a decision today, we would move forward with the process. But that is not within our control, and so we are patiently waiting to see what happens,” she said.

The Mohameds face an 11-count federal indictment in Miami, unsealed on October 30, 2025, involving allegations of large-scale fraud, money laundering, customs violations, bribery, and the evasion of millions of dollars in taxes and royalties linked to gold exports. Committal proceedings in Guyana began the following day, October 31, 2025.

The case has faced several delays. On March 24, hearings were adjourned for 12 days after Azruddin Mohamed was diagnosed with dengue fever. The timeline was further extended to April 21 following a ruling by the Caribbean Court of Justice, which granted time for arguments before the regional court. Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandlall, SC, is expected to lead the state’s case.

Throughout the proceedings, the Mohameds have maintained that the extradition request is politically motivated, arguing it is connected to Azruddin Mohamed’s entry into politics. He formed his own party months before elections and now serves as opposition leader. Their legal team has alleged that the Authority to Proceed was granted with political bias.

Theriot firmly rejected those claims, stating the case is grounded entirely in law and supported by substantial evidence.

“We firmly believe they are guilty of the crimes for which they have been indicted,” she said, adding that the U.S. government does not pursue criminal cases for political reasons.

The Ambassador also noted that the alleged fraud affected more than U.S. taxpayers, and cautioned against any interpretation of the proceedings as politically driven from Washington’s side.

Should extradition not proceed, Theriot confirmed the Mohameds would remain sanctioned under U.S. law.

SOURCE: Kaieteur News, “America patiently waiting to extradite Mohameds, U.S. Ambassador,” March 31, 2026