Opposition leader arrested after apparent gunshot outside police spy chief’s residence

Last Updated on Tuesday, 13 October 2026, 22:17 by Writer

Head of the Guyana Police Force’s Special Branch, Senior Superintendent Prem Narine, who is a witness in a United States extradition request hearing, opened fire on a vehicle late Monday night after he heard what appeared to be a gunshot while a car transporting Opposition Leader Azruddin Mohamed and two other persons passed by his residence a second time, police said in a statement.

“Investigations further revealed that as the vehicle approached his residence on the second occasion, Senior Superintendent Narine heard what appeared to be a gunshot. He took cover and discharged several rounds from his service firearm in the direction of the vehicle, which subsequently drove away,” police said in a statement.

The Head of Special Branch said he was at his residence when he observed the car travelling slowly along Barr Street.

The vehicle passed his residence before returning to the area a short while later.

The incident occurred several hours before Mr Mohamed was due to appear at the Guyana Court of Appeal for a civil case challenging the constitutionality of several provisions of the Fugitive Offenders Act.

Mr Narine, who has been on the witness stand in the extradition hearing before Chief Magistrate Judy Latchman, has deemed Mr Mohamed a threat to national security and cited his alleged involvement in a number of homicides.

He has never been charged with any of those alleged offences.

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) said the vehicle — a black Toyota Allion motorcar bearing registration number PXX 5300 — was subsequently intercepted at Vlissengen Road and Sandy Babb Street, Kitty, with Mr Mohamed, 25-year-old Mario Mohamed of Timehri, East Bank Demerara and 35-year-old Eugene Thorne a driver of Timehri, East Bank Demerara.

Police said a search conducted on the motorcar in the presence of the three occupants led to the discovery of a .32 Taurus pistol without a serial number, along with three live rounds of .32 ammunition.

“The three men were subsequently arrested in connection with possession of a firearm and ammunition without a licence,” police said.

One .32 spent shell was recovered on the southern side of Barr Street, obliquely opposite the residence, while four 9mm spent shells were also recovered, police added.

Police said the firearm, ammunition and spent shells were lodged pending ballistic examination, while CCTV footage from the area will be reviewed as part of the investigation.

Mr Mohamed and his lawyer Siand Dhurjon said the firearm that was located under the accelerator pedal was planted there by police.