Shamim Mafi, a 44-year-old Iranianbusinesswomanhas been arrestedat Los Angeles International Airport on Saturday night for allegedly trafficking arms on behalf of the Iranian government . According to the US Attorney's office for the Central District of California Mafi is a Woodland Hills resident and is accused of bro kering deals which involves Iranian made drones, bomb fuses and millions of rounds of ammunition that were reportedly destined for Sudan . The authorities has filled a case against her under a violation which consists of sanctions and prohibited foreign transactions .
US Attorney BillEssaylistatedin a post on X that"Last night, Shamim Mafi, 44, of Woodland Hills, was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport for trafficking arms on behalf of the government of Iran. She is charged with a violation of 50 U.S.C § 1705 for brokering the sale of drones, bombs, bomb fuses, and millions of rounds of ammunition manufactured by Iran and sold to Sudan."
If Mafi is convicted, she will face a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. The investigators allege that Mafi used an Oman-registered company, Atlas International Business, tofacilitatethe deals, some of whichreportedly continuedas recently as 2025.Among the transactions in court documents in a contract worth more than $70 million for Mohajer-6 armeddrones which is manufactured by Iran's ministry ofdefenceand Armed Forces Logistics.
The drones, along with tens of thousands of bomb fuses, were allegedly supplied to Sudan's ministry ofdefence, which has been engaged in a violent civil conflict since 2023.
The US administrative authorities have also claimed that the phone records reveals that Mafi was in direct contact with Iran's ministry of intelligence and security between December 2022 and June 2025. Prosecutors say she did not have the legalauthorisationrequiredto conductsuch transactions.
Who is ShamimMafi?
Shamim Mafi is an Iranian national who left Iran in 2013 and became a lawful permanent resident of the United States in 2016.Despite ofthe allegations, her image appeared different. Shefrequentlyposts her luxurious lifestyle on social media consisting of images of international travel and posing with an expensive Mercedes-Benz roadster.
She is likely to appear in a Los Angeles court on Monday, 20th April 2026 afternoon for herinitialhearing.