A 44-year-old Iranian American woman has been arrested at Los Angeles International Airport on suspicion of brokering weapons deals on behalf of the Iranian government, including the sale of drones to Sudan's defence ministry.
Shamim Mafi, a lawful permanent US resident from Woodland Hills, California, was detained on Saturday night by federal agents. She is accused of facilitating the transfer of Iranian-manufactured drones, bombs, bomb fuses, and millions of rounds of ammunition to contacts in Africa, particularly Sudan.
According to a criminal complaint, Mafi and an unnamed co-conspirator operated through their company Atlas International, brokering deals from various locations including California. In one instance, Mafi allegedly coordinated a €60 million contract for the sale of Iranian drones to Sudan's ministry of defence, earning herself €6 million in payment after arranging travel for Sudanese officials to Iran.
Mafi, who has lived in the US since 2016, frequently travels to Iran, Turkey, and Oman. She reportedly told federal officials that her first husband was an officer in Iran's ministry of intelligence and security. Social media posts show Mafi posing with weapons in a Turkish warehouse and enjoying a beach day in California.
If convicted, Mafi faces up to 20 years in federal prison. She is expected to appear in court on Monday at the US District Court in Los Angeles.
