The following statement was issued today by Nazar Mohamed and Azruddin Mohamed in relation to a Reuters report
The Mohameds take note of a special Reuters report titled “US Probing Exxon Contractor in Guyana for Smuggling Drugs, Gold” dated July 14, 2023.
The report printed by Reuters is defamatory of the character and reputation of Mr. Nazar Mohamed and his son Azruddin Mohamed.
A cursory reading of the report reveals that it is a repetition and regurgitation of the now widely accepted discredited Bram Ebus report published on September 14, 2020.
The report is premised and riddled with unverified and unsubstantiated assertions that the Mohameds are the subjects of investigations by “…the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Department of Homeland Security, and other US agencies on the suspicion of smuggling Colombian cocaine and illegally mined Venezuelan gold to the United States, Europe, and the Middle East…” and for “…laundering money for drug traffickers and criminals, including sanctioned Russian nationals operating in the region…”
The Mohameds reject the purported sources referred to in the defamatory report and the reckless use of sources as the basis of the entire report.
The Mohameds categorically deny that they are the subject of any investigations by any US authorities. In response to a request by Reuters to respond to these baseless allegations, the Mohameds not only specifically denied these allegations but challenged Reuters to produce any evidence to support the allegations made in the report.
The article revealed that Reuters failed to do so.
The Mohameds repeat and maintain their challenge to Reuters to produce any information to support that these allegations are of any substance.
The Mohameds are surprised and astonished that such a seemingly reputable international news agency would publish such allegations that are devoid of any substance.
It is disappointing that Reuters would permit itself to be the tool of misinformation and an agent of the detractors of the Mohameds’.
The Mohameds consider this report a most vile diabolical sloppy hatchet job, published with the primary intention to create the appearance that the Mohameds are in a position of conflict with the US law enforcement agencies.
The tone, tenor, and content of the report clearly aim to lower the Mohameds’ estimation in the eyes of Guyanese, the international community, and to destroy their business relations, integrity, and credentials.
In conclusion, we remain fully committed to upholding the law and conducting our business operations with the highest standards of legitimacy and integrity.