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United States sanctioned two members of the Mohamed’s family and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour, Mae Thomas over alleged gold smuggling and corruption.

The US Department of the Treasury, in a statement this week, said between 2019 and 2023, Mohamed’s Enterprise omitted more than 10 thousand kilogrammes of gold from import and export declarations and avoided paying more than US $50 million in duty taxes to the Government of Guyana.

Mohamed’s Enterprise has also been accused of bribing customs officials to falsify import and export documents, as well as to facilitate illicit gold shipments.

With these sanctions in place, the Government of Guyana is assessing what steps need to be taken now to comply with those penalties. Jagdeo said Bank of Guyana and other local financial bodies are creating a full report on what actions are needed to ensure that the country is in full compliance with the sanctions.

Already, the cambio license for the Mohameds is to be cancelled.

United States sanctions on two members of the Mohamed’s family and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour, Mae Thomas.

“We intend to fully investigate this matter, we intend to prosecute those who break the law, we intend to work in full partnership with the US government,” the Vice President said at a press conference.

According to Jagdeo, the Government of Guyana and the US Government share a strong relationship and the relevant information and documentation from the US probe has been requested.

In fact, he said the government wrote to the Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen, particularly seeking information gathered on corrupt government officials in Guyana.

And he vowed that all culpable parties will be held accountable.

“… we have made it clear from the very beginning that people who break the law will face the consequences and therefore if the Mohamed’s break the law, they will face the consequences.

“But they have, as Guyanese citizens, the right the due process as any other citizen,” Jagdeo said.

Nazar Mohamed and his son, Azruddin, were members of the Mohamed’s family sanctioned by the US Department of the Treasury.

Ventures associated with the family: Mohamed’s Enterprise, Hadi’s World and Team Mohamed’s Racing were also sanctioned. Thomas was also implicated in the corruption allegations.

Several US security and law enforcement bodies- from Homeland Security to the Federal Bureau of Investigations- were involved in the US investigations reportedly conducted into the operations of the Mohameds and Thomas.

fingered in corruption allegations, has resigned from the People’s Progressive Party Civic (PPP/C).

The PPP/C is the party currently occupying the seat of government and Thomas is part of the party’s Central Committee.

She also served as the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labour before she was sent on leave in the aftermath of the US sanctions this week. Prior to that post, she was the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

“Mae resigned from the Central Committee of the party.

“She indicated that she did not want to bring the party to disrepute… and she says that she maintains her innocence and is available for any investigation,” Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo told a press conference on Thursday.

As the probe into the corruption allegations unfolds, Jagdeo nevertheless described Thomas as a “hard worker” and expressed his sadness that she has resigned from the party’s leadership.

He, however, emphasised that a full probe into the allegations will be done, likely with the support of the US government and information gathered in its investigations.

Two members of the Mohamed’s family and Thomas were sanctioned this week over alleged gold smuggling and corruption.

The US Department of the Treasury, in a statement this week, said between 2019 and 2023, Mohamed’s Enterprise omitted more than 10,000 kilogrammes of gold from import and export declarations and avoided paying more than US $50 million in duty taxes to the Government of Guyana.

Mohamed’s Enterprise has also been accused of bribing customs officials to falsify import and export documents, as well as to facilitate illicit gold shipments.

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Bangladesh kept their hopes alive with a clinical win over the Netherlands (Photo: ICC via Getty Images)

SUMMARY: Bangladesh 159-5 from 20 overs (Shakib 64*, Tanzid 35, Van Meekeren 2-15, Dutt 2-17) beat Netherlands 134-8 from 20 overs (Engelbrecht 33, Vikramjit 26, Rishad 3-33, Taskin 2-30, Mustafizur 1-12) by 25 runs

Bangladesh took a big step towards qualification for the T20 World Cup Super Eight as they beat the Netherlands by 25 runs in St Vincent.

Shakib Al Hasan struck an unbeaten 64 from 46 balls to guide his side to 159, rebuilding the innings after they lost two early wickets to the bowling of Aryan Dutt.

In reply, the Dutch initially kept up with the required run-rate, with Vikram Singh hitting three sixes in a spirited 26 before being stumped by Litton Das.

Young leg-spinner Rishad Hossain then took the wickets of Sybrand Engelbrecht and Bas de Leede in the 15th over to stall the chase at 111-5, with the Netherlands making just 23 runs from the final five overs.

The win sees Bangladesh move two points clear of their opponents in Group D, knowing a win against Nepal on Monday (01:30 BST) will definitely secure their place in the second round.

The Dutch must hope that Bangladesh lose that fixture, and that they can win and achieve a big run-rate swing against bottom-placed Sri Lanka.