In 2021 and 2022, US government officials repeatedly warned Exxon Mobil to avoid doing business with two mining magnates in Guyana, who face investigation on suspicions of money laundering, drug trafficking and gold smuggling. The individuals in question are the owners of Mohamed’s Enterprise, who have been involved in gold mining and foreign currency exchange before expanding into the oil business in recent years.
Exxon Mobil ignored the US’ warnings, continued to engage the men as part of a $300 million onshore logistics deal with the Mohammeds as partners to a contract awarded in April 2022.
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The US is now considering imposing sanctions on the men – Nazar Mohamed and his son, Azruddin – which could require Exxon to sever its business relationship with any sanctioned individuals or companies.
According to sources familiar with the matter, the Mohameds deny any wrongdoing, although they are being investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Department of Homeland Security and other U.S. agencies, on suspicions of smuggling Colombian cocaine and illegally mined Venezuelan gold to the United States, Europe and the Middle East. The men are also suspected of laundering money for drug traffickers and criminals, including sanctioned Russian nationals operating in the region.
Back in April, Nazar Mohamed declared he was not involved in any `scampish’ business, and secured the Washington DC public relations and lobbying firm, Barbour Griffith & Rogers to investigate why he has been blocked for more than a decade from securing a US non-immigrant visa.
