In brief
Shamim Mafi, a 44-year-old Iranian national, was arrested at LAX for allegedly facilitating the trafficking of weaponry from Iran to Sudan amid a civil war that has plunged the nation into humanitarian crisis. Prosecutors claim Mafi was involved in brokering arms sales, including drones and millions of rounds of ammunition, potentially facing up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A woman from Los Angeles has been arrested on suspicion of aiding in the trafficking of weapons from Iran to Sudan, which is currently experiencing a devastating civil war that has now entered its fourth year.
Shamim Mafi, 44, was arrested Saturday night at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Federal prosecutors allege she played a significant role in brokering arms sales, particularly involving drones, bombs, bomb fuses, and millions of rounds of ammunition, between Iran and the Sudanese Armed Forces.
A social media post from U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli showed Mafi being escorted by FBI personnel into a vehicle outside LAX. As Mafi's legal representation remains unknown, efforts to locate her attorney were unsuccessful.
Mafi, an Iranian national who became a lawful permanent resident of the U.S. in 2016, is said to have operated a company named Atlas International Business in Oman alongside an unnamed co-conspirator. The indictment indicates that the business received upwards of $7 million in payments for its transactions in 2025.
In an alarming detail, the criminal complaint highlights Mafi’s prior submission of a letter of intent to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, outlining plans to purchase bomb fuses intended for Sudan. Mafi's initial court appearance is scheduled for Monday, where she could potentially face up to 20 years in prison if found guilty.
The ongoing civil war in Sudan has led to a dire humanitarian crisis, with food supplies dwindling and millions being displaced from their homes.