Federal authorities arrested Shamim Mafi, a 44-year-old Iranian national, at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on suspicion of trafficking weapons on behalf of the Iranian government. According to officials, Mafi is accused of brokering deals to sell drones, bombs, bomb fuses, and millions of rounds of ammunition manufactured by Iran and sold to Sudan.
Key Takeaways
Federal authorities arrested Shamim Mafi, a 44-year-old Iranian national, at LAX for allegedly trafficking weapons on behalf of the Iranian government to Sudan. She faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
- Mafi is accused of brokering deals worth over $70 million for drones and ammunition
- She used an Oman-based company to facilitate transactions and evade sanctions
- Mafi maintained contact with Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS)
- The arrest highlights concerns about arms trafficking and sanctions evasion involving Iranian entities
Mafi became a lawful permanent resident of the United States in 2016. She was arrested on Saturday night and is expected to make an appearance in U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles on Monday afternoon. If convicted, she faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.
According to First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli, Mafi violated 50 U.S.C. § 1705, which pertains to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The criminal complaint alleges that Mafi brokered a contract worth over $60 million euros for the sale of Iranian-made Mohajer-6 armed drones to Sudan's Ministry of Defense. Investigators also allege she helped arrange the sale of 55,000 bomb fuses and multiple ammunition deals, including 10 million rounds of AK-47 ammunition.
The complaint further alleges that Mafi used an Oman-based company, Atlas International Business LLC, to facilitate these deals. Payments were routed through Turkey and the United Arab Emirates in an attempt to evade U.S. sanctions. According to the FBI affidavit, Mafi maintained contact with an officer from Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) and acknowledged her communications during interviews with U.S. Customs and Border Control officers.
Mafi was scheduled to depart LAX for Istanbul on April 18, and federal agents believed evidence of the alleged scheme would be found on her person and at her residence. The arrest highlights ongoing concerns about arms trafficking and sanctions evasion involving Iranian entities.
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