Letter: Azruddin Mohamed does not enjoy any kind of legal exemption

Dear Editor,

I am very ‘up-to-date’ as regards Opposition Leader, United States sanctioned and indicated Azruddin Mohamed’s presence near President Irfan Ali’s private Leonora home.” And as well know, it was not his presence as such, but the ‘heavily’ tinted and armoured vehicle and a drone, allegedly being flown in forbidden proximity of the residence. This is what is the crux of the matter on hand.

First, readers need to be au fait with the fact that in Guyana, it is ‘illegal’ to fly a drone, take pictures, or film/record over a private residence without ‘explicit’ and prior permission from the property owner. This is as fundamental as we can get.

Secondly, the derivative is that one can ‘absolutely’ face legal consequences under Guyanese law, for any ‘deliberately’ and ‘repeatedly’ walking about or driving around ‘close’ to a neighbour’s property, if that behaviour borders across and starts to constitute harassment, intimidation, or interference. This is so, even if and when one stays on a public road or sidewalk, but is deliberately targeting someone’s home with repetitive, hostile and suspicious conduct.

The forgone is neither new nor hidden information.

That is why I add my voice to the chorus of concerned Guyanese, who are raising alarms over ‘Mohamed’s presence near President Ali’s Leonora home. This kind of thing is almost totally unheard of, and the few instances of such occurrences were dealt with in a most legal, swift and condign manner. I leave those in doubt to do their research and find out firsthand what normally obtains. The bottom line is that Azruddin Mohamed does not enjoy any kind of legal ‘exemption.’

Editor, I want people to know that internationally, at no time are unauthorized individuals allowed to enter restricted and guarded physical perimeters or airspace near any presidential residence. No! Not at all!

All over the world, there is ‘Perimeter Security’ for government agents and by default there is always strict physical security zones around their official and private homes. President Ali for sure heads this list, in person and property, where high level pre-emptive security measures mut be in place and be swiftly enforced in any case of a mere suspicion.

In many counties, it is a known and accepted reality that there are also ‘airspace restrictions to guard against any suspected incursion by air or waterways. Enforcement personnel ensure compliance regarding permanent or temporary ‘no-fly’ zones mandates, and always act to preclude and prevent ‘rogue’ drones or unauthorized air or water vessels from nearing the property.

Check if you wish, and find out that in any ‘suspicion of breach,’ how the response is a total package that encompasses alacrity and adequacy of personnel and machinery. This ‘tightness’ was lacking when Jovenel Moïse, was gunned down in his own home on July 7, 2021, as part of a complex, well-funded political conspiracy, aimed at seizing power and securing lucrative government contracts. Need I say more?

Now regarding the incident after interception, Azruddin Mohamed, as expected was legally detained and questioned by the police. The reason is simply that his vehicle was intercepted near President Irfaan Ali’s private residence. The details, now quite public, show that on September 3, 2026, the members of the Guyana Police Force stopped a black Toyota Land Cruiser along the Windsor Forest Public Road, West Coast Demerara, near the President’s home in Leonora. (And get this) Inside the trunk, officers discovered a DJI drone and four cellular phones. This is serious! It has elements of criminal intent.

The specifics of the incident are worth emphasizing, as Mohamed was using a driver and accompanying the lot was a technician who admitted ownership of the device, though he noted his operator’s license had expired. What is this?

Editor, this is more than enough to institute arrests and lay charges. The whole thing wreaks of suspicion, treachery and some kind clandestine operation. I cannot treat this as another of Mohamed’s many acts of provocation, to have the upper end on the GPF, if he can only get them to do the irrational and illegal.

This then led to Special Prosecutor Glenn Hanoman raising alarms regarding Mohamed’s presence near the residence at night, suggesting the investigation could touch on severe security implications. Hanoman subsequently petitioned the court to revoke Mohamed’s bail, that had already ensued. However, Chief Magistrate, Judy Latchman, denied the prosecutor’s application to remand Mohamed.
This is where the matter is as investigations are ongoing, with the Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed on self-bail.

I must point out that Azruddin Mohamed seems oblivious of what it really means to be the official Leader of the Opposition. His conduct and general deportment have descended to that which is wild, boisterous and messy.

Overall, Mohamed’s behavior represents a pattern of intimidation and lawlessness, and this ‘drone incident’ typifies what I am saying. I do not think that anyone needs convincing that ‘an unauthorized drone,’ allegedly seen flying over President Irfaan Ali’s private residence is tantamount to a security threat.

The chronic pattern set out by Mohamed leaves me wondering if he is simply trying to create as mush mess as he can, since he feels hopeless regarding his ‘11-count U.S. federal criminal indictment for gold smuggling and money laundering.’ We are talking here about his conspiracy to commit wire fraud and mail fraud, money laundering, tax evasion, and customs violations.

I do recall that In June 2023, Taylor Taranto actually streamed himself in Washington, D.C.,. He claimed that he was searching for “secret tunnels” outside the neighborhood of former President Barack Obama’s residence.

He was spotted walking into the woods near the property and was arrested by the Secret Service because his vehicle contained firearms, ammunition, and materials to make a Molotov cocktail. He was subsequently convicted of menacing and sentenced to time served plus supervised release. He was a private citizen, and not a political opposition leader, and by implication, Mohamed, being of a high-profile status, must be handled in a more stringent manner. Bear in mind that one of Mohamed’s associates admitted owning a drone, but with expired licence. This has its own element of laughter, as I recall that only recently, the said Opposition Leader’s boat, the Prince AZ II, was detained by a joint police-coast guard patrol in Guyana, and it was revealed that its licence and certificate of inspection had expired seven years prior, on September 10, 2018.

A joker? Certainly not. I see him as an utter demagogue. I see him as someone who recognizes that WIN, under him cannot win, so he selfishly choosing go down in a spectacular, uncompromising manner.

Yours truly,
Hargesh B Singh