Los Angeles woman arrested on Iranian arms trafficking charge
LOS ANGELES — A 44-year-old woman from Los Angeles was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport on Saturday night for allegedly aiding Iran in trafficking weapons to Sudan, which is currently embroiled in a devastating civil war.
Shamim Mafi, the suspect, is accused of brokering the sale of drones, bombs, bomb fuses, and millions of rounds of ammunition between Iran and the Sudanese Armed Forces. First U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli announced the charges against Mafi on social media.
Mafi, an Iranian national who obtained lawful permanent residency in the United States in 2016, was allegedly involved in operating a company called Atlas International Business in Oman. The company reportedly received over $7 million in payments in 2025 for trafficking weapons and ammunition.
According to court documents, Mafi and an unnamed co-conspirator facilitated the sale of 55,000 bomb fuses to the Sudanese Ministry of Defense. Mafi submitted a letter of intent to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to purchase the bomb fuses for Sudan as part of the transaction.
Federal prosecutors have scheduled Mafi to appear in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles on Monday. If convicted, she could face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
The civil war in Sudan has led to a severe humanitarian crisis in the country, with food supplies running low and millions of people forced to flee their homes.
The arrest of Mafi highlights the ongoing challenges of illicit arms trafficking and the devastating impact it can have on conflict-ridden regions like Sudan. The case underscores the importance of international cooperation in combating the illegal trade of weapons and promoting peace and stability in war-torn countries.
