Iranian National Faces Federal Charges in Alleged Arms Operation [WATCH]

Federal authorities arrested an Iranian national at Los Angeles International Airport on Friday, alleging she brokered the sale of Iranian-made weapons to Sudan in violation of U.S. sanctions laws, according to a newly unsealed criminal complaint.

Shamim Mafi, 44, of Woodland Hills, was taken into custody as she prepared to board a flight to Turkey.

The arrest was confirmed by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli in a post on X.

“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,” Essayli wrote Sunday.

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“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.”

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… pic.twitter.com/l39Gf1WVed

— F.A. United States Attorney Bill Essayli (@USAttyEssayli) April 19, 2026

Prosecutors allege that Mafi worked with others on behalf of Iran and played a role in arranging weapons transactions with Sudan’s Ministry of Defense.

The complaint accuses her of conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.

According to the filing, Mafi allegedly brokered a contract valued at more than $70.6 million for the sale of Iranian-made Mohajer-6 armed drones to Sudan.

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Investigators also allege she helped arrange the sale of 55,000 bomb fuses to the Sudanese military.

Additional allegations include her involvement in securing agreements for large quantities of ammunition, including 10 million rounds of AK-47 ammunition and a separate proposed deal for 240 million rounds.

“MAFI is a lawful permanent resident in the United States who maintains a residence in Woodland Hills, California, and travels frequently to Iran, Turkey, Oman, and other countries,” the 68-page complaint stated.

“As set forth below, MAFI executed her illegal weapons brokering scheme from multiple locations, including within the Central District of California.”

Mafi became a lawful permanent resident of the United States in 2016.

Prosecutors said she is not a U.S. citizen. She is expected to make her initial appearance Monday afternoon in U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles.

Authorities noted that she is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

Investigators said Mafi acknowledged contact with individuals linked to Iran’s government during interviews with law enforcement.

“During interviews with U.S. Customs and Border Control (‘CBP’) officers and the FBI, MAFI acknowledged communicating with an officer of Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security (‘MOIS Officer-1’),” the complaint stated.

“Mafi stated that she is ‘more useful to them [i.e., MOIS] in Iran than in the United States,’ and records obtained pursuant to a search warrant show approximately 62 bidirectional contacts between Mafi and MOIS Officer-1’s phone numbers between December 2022 and June 2025.”

According to the affidavit, investigators believe Mafi and her alleged co-conspirators used an Oman-based company, Atlas International Business LLC, to facilitate the transactions.

Payments were reportedly routed through Turkey and the United Arab Emirates, which authorities said was intended to bypass U.S. sanctions.

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The complaint also alleges coordination with individuals connected to Iran’s government, including members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and ongoing communication with an officer from the Ministry of Intelligence and Security.

Federal agents said Mafi did not obtain required U.S. licenses to broker transactions involving Iranian goods or defense articles.

Authorities said she was scheduled to depart Los Angeles for Istanbul on April 18 and that investigators believed evidence related to the alleged scheme could be found on her person and at her residence.

If convicted, Mafi faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison under the charge cited by prosecutors.

The case remains under investigation as federal authorities continue to review evidence tied to the alleged weapons brokering activity.

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