Guyana Revenue Authority Says “Angry Mob” Prevented It From Seizing High End Vehicles Over Non-Payment of Taxes

GEORGETOWN, Guyana – The Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) Saturday said an “angry bob” had prevented its officials from seizing several  high end vehicles, including a Ferrari, a Rolls Royce and Lamborghini Roadster from the home of businessman, Azruddin Mohamed, over the non-payment of billions of dollars (One Guyana dollar=US$0.004 cents) in outstanding taxes.

Part of the crowd at Azruddin Mohamed’s residence when GRA officers went there on SaturdayIn a statement, the GRA said that after giving the Mohameds notice, on three separate occasions, and the opportunity over the past month to make arrangements to either pay the outstanding taxes, or produce the said vehicles, its law enforcement officers were on Saturday unsuccessful in carrying out the seizure.

“Mr. Mohamed refused the officers requests and instead they were resisted from entering the premises by an angry mob inclusive of women and children and live reporters which forced the officers to postpone the exercise and seek police assistance and protection.”

The GRA said that when its officers, who were wearing body cams, arrived at the scene, they indicated the purpose of the visit and that Mohamed questioned “What vehicles?” and indicated that GRA should contact his lawyers.

“He then proceeded to call out a large crowd from his yard and the vicinity, which started to get violent and angry, threatening the officials in the execution of their duties. The officers were forced to retreat in fear for their lives.

“In the said operation, the officers attempted to enforce the laws by taking possession of the vehicles including a Lamborghini, since the period stated in demand notices sent to the

Mohamed’s had elapsed, and they had not paid the additional taxes or produced the vehicles to the Authority as stipulated.”

According to the GRA, Mohamed owes additional taxes of GUY$479,743, 489 on the 2020 Ferrari,  GUY$61,485,982 on a 2023 Land Rover Range Rover, GUY$$320,064,246 on a 2023 Rolls Royce as well as GUY$371,775,168 for false declaration on a 2020 Lamborghini Roadster. There are other vehicles for which taxes are outstanding, the GRA said.

The GRA said it is currently coordinating with the police and wishes to assure the public that “it has and will continue to operate within the confines of the laws that the Authority administers, and will continue to take the necessary action to recover its revenues from persons who breach the laws with intent to defraud the Authority of any taxes.

“Notwithstanding…at no time will the Authority allow its officers to put the innocent lives of the taxpaying public especially women and children at risk, and took all necessary measures to mitigate the risk to life and limb of innocent persons while carrying out its mandate under the law.”

The GRA said that contrary to assertions made by Counsel for the Mohameds,  the GRA is not in receipt of any order from the Court forbidding or injuncting this exercise.

“As recent as yesterday, the said Counsel was so advised that the mere filing of an action is not law until the Court so determines and instructs the Authority otherwise, and that he should so advise his client to comply with the Authority’s demands,” the GRA said.

In June last year, the United States said it had imposed  sanctions against  businessman Nazar “Shell” Mohamed and his son Azruddin and the government earlier this month said it had received information from Washington on the alleged multi-million dollar tax evasion by the businessmen and their company in the export of more than 10,000 kilogrammes of gold.

“We’ve received a large volume of information,” Nandlall said, adding that the information had been provided at the Guyana government’s request, setting the stage for the GRA and law enforcement agencies to take action based on the “sufficient volume of evidence, information, data, documents”.

It is not known whether the action by the GRA on Saturday is as a result of the information Nandlall said Georgetown had received from Washington.