LOS ANGELES — A 44-year-old woman from Woodland Hills was arrested Saturday night at Los Angeles International Airport on charges of trafficking arms on behalf of the Iranian government, federal prosecutors said.
Shamim Mafi was taken into custody as she prepared to board a flight to Turkey, according to a criminal complaint filed in Los Angeles federal court. She faces accusations of brokering the sale of drones, bombs, bomb fuses and millions of rounds of ammunition between Iran and the Sudanese Armed Forces, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said Sunday on social media.
Mafi, described in some reports as an Iranian national and U.S. lawful permanent resident, is accused of helping funnel Iranian-made weapons to Sudan amid its ongoing civil war, now in its fourth year. The complaint alleges the activity violated U.S. sanctions laws. Details of the specific charges and the full scope of the alleged transactions remain under court seal, prosecutors said.
Federal authorities unsealed the complaint hours before the arrest. Essayli stated that Mafi was arrested "for trafficking arms on behalf of the government of Iran." No additional details about her alleged role or any co-conspirators were released publicly on Sunday.
Sudan has been engulfed in fighting between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces since April 2023, resulting in one of the world's deadliest conflicts. Iranian weapons have been reported in the region, though the U.S. government has not commented specifically on this case beyond the charges against Mafi.
If convicted, Mafi could face a statutory maximum of 20 years in federal prison, prosecutors said. She is scheduled to make her initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles on Monday.
The case was investigated by federal agencies including the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations, though officials have released few specifics about the probe. No one from Mafi's legal team or family could immediately be reached for comment.
Authorities have not disclosed any estimated value of the alleged arms deals or the precise timeline of the activities. The arrest comes amid broader U.S. efforts to enforce sanctions against Iran and disrupt its alleged support for proxy forces in conflict zones.
Mafi remains in federal custody pending her court appearance. No further information about potential bail or additional charges was available Sunday evening.
