US Edition
Iranian National Arrested at LAX on Suspicion of Trafficking Weapons on Iran Government's Behalf
Federal prosecutors say she brokered more than $70 million in Iranian weapons deals and faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
- On Saturday night, federal authorities arrested Shamim Mafi at Los Angeles International Airport, charging the Woodland Hills resident with brokering unauthorized arms deals for the Iranian government.
- Prosecutors allege Mafi used an Oman-registered front company, Atlas International Business, to facilitate transactions including over $70 million in Iranian Mohajer-6 drones and 55,000 bomb fuses destined for Sudan.
- Phone records indicate Mafi may have been in contact with Iran's Ministry of Intelligence between December 2022 and June 2025, though she denied to investigators acting on behalf of the regime.
- Mafi faces a statutory maximum of 20 years in federal prison if convicted and is expected to appear Monday afternoon in U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles.
- The arrest coincides with Vice President JD Vance leading a delegation to Islamabad for talks with Iran as officials attempt to prevent expiration of a Middle East ceasefire.
115 Articles
115 Articles
Times of India
The Economic TimesGreen card holder held at US airport over Iran-linked arms trafficking charges
A US green card holder, Shamim Mafi, has been arrested at LAX for allegedly brokering multi-million dollar weapons deals on behalf of Iran. The charges include trafficking Iranian-made drones, bombs, and ammunition to Sudan, with some weapons reportedly originating from China. Mafi, a resident of Woodland Hills, faces up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted.
Iranian woman arrested in US for brokering drones, weapons deals between Iran and Sudan
An Iranian-origin woman has been detained in the United States over allegations that she acted as an intermediary in illicit arms deals, facilitating the transfer of drones, explosives and other munitions between Tehran and Sudan. 44-year-old Shamim Mafi, who became a permanent resident of the United States in 2016, was nabbed at the Los Angeles International Airport on Saturday night. The development has been confirmed by Bill Essayli, First As…
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