# Iranian National Detained at LAX on Arms Trafficking Allegations
Federal authorities have taken into custody a 44-year-old Iranian national at Los Angeles International Airport, facing accusations of facilitating weapons transactions on behalf of Tehran’s government. Shamim Mafi, who resides in Woodland Hills, California, was
apprehended on Saturday evening as she arrived at the airport.
According to U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli, who announced the arrest via social media on Sunday, Mafi holds lawful permanent resident status in the United States, having obtained her green card in 2016. The charges against her center on allegations that she orchestrated the sale of military equipment manufactured in Iran to Sudan, including unmanned aerial vehicles, explosives, bomb fuses, and substantial quantities of ammunition.
The defendant faces potential imprisonment of up to two decades if found guilty of the charges brought against her. Her initial court appearance has been scheduled for Monday at the U.S. District Court located in Los Angeles, where she will face the allegations formally.
Court documents reveal that Mafi allegedly played a key role in arranging a deal worth more than 60 million Euros, approximately $70 million in U.S. currency, for the transfer of Mohajer-6 drones produced by Iranian manufacturers to Sudanese buyers. The complaint further alleges that she organized travel for Sudanese officials to Iran and personally received compensation totaling around $7 million for her involvement in these transactions.
Additional accusations in the criminal complaint state that Mafi brokered another transaction involving 55,000 bomb fuses destined for Sudan’s Ministry of Defense. Prosecutors emphasized that the defendant failed to secure necessary authorization from the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control before engaging in these sales, as required by law.
During questioning by U.S. Customs and Border Control personnel and Federal Bureau of Investigation agents, Mafi reportedly admitted to maintaining communications with an official from Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security. She also allegedly indicated her
willingness to share detailed knowledge about Iran’s financial infrastructure and the methods the regime employs for money laundering activities.
The timing of this arrest coincides with escalating economic measures being imposed on Iran by Washington. These actions follow an intensive U.S.-Israeli military operation that has involved thousands of strikes within Iranian territory since late February. The current
administration recently implemented a naval blockade affecting Iranian ports and is dispatching diplomatic representatives to Pakistan for negotiations regarding a potential peace agreement.
During a White House press conference on April 15, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent outlined plans to intensify economic pressure on Tehran, describing the upcoming measures as representing the “financial equivalent” of a bombing campaign. He explained that the
administration has issued clear warnings to both corporations and foreign governments regarding Iranian oil purchases and Iranian funds held in international banking institutions, stating that the United States is prepared to implement secondary sanctions as a severe enforcement tool.
Bessent conveyed a direct message to Iranian officials that these financial measures would parallel the intensity of recent military actions. On the same day, the Treasury Department announced sanctions targeting an Iranian oil smuggling operation, affecting approximately two dozen individuals, corporate entities, and maritime vessels that had been utilizing shell companies to circumvent existing U.S. sanctions.
Information regarding legal representation for Mafi has not been made available at this time. The case highlights ongoing efforts by federal authorities to prevent individuals from facilitating arms transfers on behalf of the Iranian government while residing in the United States under lawful permanent resident status.
The prosecution’s case will need to demonstrate that Mafi knowingly engaged in arms brokering activities without proper authorization and with full awareness that she was acting on behalf of Iran’s government in violation of U.S. sanctions law.