Iranian American Woman Arrested in Los Angeles for Arms Trafficking to Sudan

Shamim Mafi, an Iranian national and lawful permanent resident of the United States, was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport on Saturday night for allegedly brokering arms sales to Sudan on behalf of the Iranian government.

Federal prosecutors charged Mafi with facilitating the sale of drones, bombs, bomb fuses, and millions of rounds of ammunition manufactured by Iran and sold to Sudan.

She faces up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted.

The arrest was announced by Bill Essayli, the first assistant US attorney for the Central District of California.

Mafi, 44, resides in Woodland Hills, California, and has been a US permanent resident since 2016.

This case is significant as it involves the illegal transfer of sophisticated weaponry to Sudan, a country currently embroiled in a civil war that has resulted in hundreds of thousands of civilian deaths and displaced millions.

The arms sales allegedly facilitated by Mafi could exacerbate the ongoing conflict.

According to court documents, Mafi operated through a company called Atlas International and worked with at least one unnamed co-conspirator.

The illegal arms dealings reportedly took place in multiple locations, including California, Turkey, and Oman.

Mafi has personal ties to Iran's intelligence ministry through her first husband, who was an officer in the ministry of intelligence and security.

She has frequently traveled between the US, Iran, Turkey, and Oman.

One notable transaction involved the sale of Iranian-manufactured drones to Sudan's ministry of defense, valued at over 60 million euros.

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