On Sunday, law enforcement apprehended Shamim Mafi, a 44-year-old Iranian national and lawful permanent resident, at Los Angeles International Airport as she attempted to board a flight to Istanbul, Turkey. This arrest is linked to a broader investigation into her purported arms brokering activities for the Iranian government.
A detailed 68-page criminal complaint reveals that Mafi is charged with arranging the sale of drones, explosives, bomb fuses, and millions of ammunition rounds produced in Iran and directed towards Sudan. She also stands accused of conspiring to breach the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
The complaint indicates that Mafi conducted transactions without acquiring necessary U.S. licenses, engaging in dealings that contravene American sanctions. Should she be found guilty, she faces a potential maximum prison term of 20 years.
Prosecutors highlighted specific illicit activities, including a sale contract exceeding $70.6 million for Iranian Mohajer-6 armed drones intended for Sudan’s Ministry of Defense. Mafi is also implicated in facilitating the delivery of 55,000 bomb fuses to Sudan’s military and various ammunition deals, including a significant contract for 10 million rounds of AK-47 ammunition.
The funding for these transactions was allegedly funneled through Turkey and the UAE, utilizing an Oman-based company, Atlas International Business LLC, to circumvent U.S. sanctions.
BREAKING: Iranian national Shamim Mafi arrested at Los Angeles International Airport for allegedly trafficking guns on behalf of the Iranian government.
She faces up to 20 years in prison.
Mafi was born in Iran and became a lawful United States resident in 2016 under Obama. pic.twitter.com/URQmhnxjJW
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) April 19, 2026
Court evidence suggests Mafi maintained connections with Iranian officials. A search warrant uncovered around 62 contacts between Mafi and a phone number linked to an officer from Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security from December 2022 to June 2025.
In her discussions with U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the FBI, Mafi admitted to these communications, claiming her effectiveness to the MOIS was greater in Iran than in the U.S. The prosecution asserts that she operated the trafficking scheme from various locations, including California, Iran, Turkey, and Oman.
Bill Essayli, U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, stated, “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… If convicted, she faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. Mafi, who became a lawful permanent resident in 2016, is due to appear in U.S. District Court in downtown L.A. on Monday.”
