A 44-year-old Iranian businesswoman and US green card holder has been arrested at Los Angeles International Airport over allegations of brokering arms deals linked to Tehran, according to US authorities.
Arrest and charges
The arrest was announced by Bill Essayli, First Assistant US Attorney, who said the accused faces serious charges related to illegal weapons transactions.
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In a statement shared on X, Essayli said, "If convicted, she faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison. Mafi is an Iranian national who became a lawful permanent resident of the United States in 2016. She is expected to make her initial appearance on Monday afternoon in US District Court in downtown Los Angeles. She is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court."
Authorities have identified the woman as Shamim Mafi, a resident of Woodland Hills.
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. She is charged with a violation of 50 U.S.C. § 1705 for brokering the sale of drones, bombs, bomb fuses, and millions of… pic.twitter.com/l39Gf1WVed
— F.A. United States Attorney Bill Essayli (@USAttyEssayli) April 19, 2026
Alleged arms network
Prosecutors allege that Mafi was involved in arranging the sale of drones, bombs, bomb fuses, and millions of rounds of ammunition manufactured in Iran and supplied to Sudan.
"She is charged with a violation of 50 U.S.C. § 1705 for brokering the sale of drones, bombs, bomb fuses, and millions of rounds of ammunition manufactured by Iran and sold to Sudan," Essayli said.
Investigators claim she maintained contact with Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security, which allegedly guided and financed her operations. Court records suggest she used an Oman-registered company, Atlas International Business, to facilitate these deals as recently as 2025.
High-value deals under scrutiny
Among the transactions under investigation is a deal reportedly worth more than $70 million. It involved Iranian-made Mohajer-6 armed drones and around 55,000 bomb fuses.
These were allegedly part of agreements with Sudan’s Ministry of Defense, which has been engaged in a civil war since 2023.
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Background and investigation
Mafi is said to have left Iran in 2013 and obtained US permanent residency in 2016. Reports also point to a visible social media presence, where she shared images of international travel and a luxury lifestyle.
Authorities say the investigation is ongoing as they examine the extent of the alleged network and transactions.
