A 44-year-old Iranian businesswoman has been arrested at Los Angeles International Airport in connection with an alleged arms trafficking operation tied to the Iranian government, US authorities said.
Shamim Mafi, a lawful permanent resident of the United States based in Woodland Hills, was taken into custody on Saturday night. Prosecutors allege she brokered deals involving Iranian-made drones, bombs, bomb fuses, and millions of rounds of ammunition, reportedly destined for Sudan.
The case, filed by the US Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California, invokes violations related to sanctions and prohibited foreign transactions under US law. US Attorney Bill Essayli said Mafi is charged under federal statutes governing unlawful international dealings, and if convicted, she could face up to 20 years in prison.
Investigators claim Mafi used an Oman-registered firm, Atlas International Business, to facilitate the transactions, some of which allegedly continued into 2025. One of the deals under scrutiny includes a contract worth over $70 million for Mohajer-6 armed drones, manufactured by Iran’s Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics.
According to court documents, the drones—along with tens of thousands of bomb fuses—were intended for Sudan’s defence ministry, which has been involved in an ongoing civil conflict since 2023.
Authorities further allege that phone records place Mafi in direct contact with Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security between December 2022 and June 2025. Prosecutors say she lacked the required legal authorisation for such transactions.
Mafi, who left Iran in 2013 and obtained US permanent residency in 2016, had projected a contrasting public image on social media, frequently posting about international travel and a luxury lifestyle, including images with high-end cars.
She is scheduled to make her initial court appearance in Los Angeles on Monday.
