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In a significant development, Shamim Mafi, a 44-year-old Iranian American, was apprehended on Saturday at Los Angeles International Airport, accused of orchestrating arms trafficking operations on behalf of the Iranian government. The federal authorities allege that Mafi was involved in supplying weapons to various contacts across Africa, including the war-torn nation of Sudan.
Details of the Arrest
Mafi, a resident of Woodland Hills, California, was taken into custody by federal agents, as confirmed by Bill Essayli, the first assistant US attorney for the Central District of California. The charges brought against her include allegedly facilitating the sale of a range of military equipment, including drones, munitions, and bomb components. In a statement on social media platform X, Essayli detailed Mafi’s suspected role in brokering these illegal transactions.
Originally from Iran, Mafi has been a lawful permanent resident of the United States since 2016. Her travel history suggests extensive connections with Iran, Turkey, and Oman, as highlighted in a criminal complaint obtained by various news outlets. The complaint reveals that she resided in Istanbul from 2013 to 2016 and had personal ties to the Iranian government through her first husband, who is reported to have been an officer in Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security.
Allegations of Brokering Arms Deals
Mafi is alleged to have collaborated with an unnamed accomplice to facilitate arms deals through their enterprise, Atlas International. Court documents indicate that these illicit activities spanned multiple locations, including California. One particularly alarming charge involves Mafi’s alleged coordination of a contract for the sale of Iranian-made drones to Sudan’s Ministry of Defence, valued at over €60 million. Reports suggest that Mafi earned approximately €6 million for her role, which included arranging travel for a Sudanese delegation to Iran.
Sudan has been embroiled in a civil conflict since 2023, resulting in significant
