California Green Card Holder Arrested At LAX In Alleged Iran-Sudan Arms Trafficking Plot
Shamim Mafi, a 44-year-old lawful permanent resident of Woodland Hills, California, was arrested at LAX Saturday night on allegations she brokered weapons sales for Iran. Federal prosecutors say she was detained as she prepared to board a flight to Turkey after checking baggage and will appear in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles on Monday.
The Justice Department charged her with conspiring to violate U.S. sanctions by brokering Iranian-made arms, including Mohajer-6 armed drones and a proposed $70.6 million drone deal. Prosecutors also allege deals for 55,000 bomb fuses, 10 million rounds of AK-47 ammunition and a proposed 240 million-round ammunition contract. An Oman company called Atlas International Business allegedly received more than $7 million in 2025 tied to the trafficking, according to the court complaint. The FBI cited about 62 bidirectional contacts between Mafi and a number linked to an officer in Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security from December 2022 through June 2025. The complaint says she submitted a letter of intent to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to buy bomb fuses for Sudan. DOJ says she became a U.S. permanent resident in 2016 and frequently traveled to Iran, Turkey, and Oman while allegedly arranging contracts. If convicted she faces up to 20 years in prison, officials warned, and the case is placed against the backdrop of Sudan's fourth year of civil war and a severe humanitarian crisis.
Initial posts and brief reports simply noted an arrest at LAX, but later filings and reporting disclosed identity, alleged transaction sizes, money flows and links to Iran's intelligence apparatus. Outlets including Fox, ABC, PBS and the New York Times expanded details after the DOJ complaint was released, and a post by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli on X amplified officials' message.
📌 Key Facts
- The suspect is identified as Shamim Mafi, 44, an Iranian national who has been a U.S. lawful permanent resident since 2016 and lives in Woodland Hills, California; reporting says she ran business-front structures, presented herself in business roles, and traveled frequently to Iran, Turkey, Oman and other countries.
- Mafi was arrested Saturday night at Los Angeles International Airport after checking luggage and preparing to board a flight to Turkey; FBI agents in jackets escorted her from the gate and the arrest was publicly announced by First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli.
- She is charged under 50 U.S.C. § 1705 with conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act for allegedly brokering Iranian-made weapons sales to Sudan’s Ministry of Defense/Sudanese Armed Forces.
- The criminal complaint alleges she arranged or pursued large weapons contracts, including a $70.6 million deal for Mohajer-6 armed drones, a sale of 55,000 bomb fuses, a 10 million–round contract for AK-47 ammunition and a proposed 240 million–round ammunition contract.
- Investigators allege financial and intermediary links tied to the trafficking, including payments of more than $7 million in 2025 to an Oman-based company named Atlas International Business.
- The FBI complaint cites about 62 bidirectional contacts between Mafi and a phone number linked to an officer of Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security between December 2022 and June 2025, and reporting says investigators tracked her travel, communications and money flows before arresting her at the gate.
- If convicted she faces up to 20 years in prison; she was scheduled to make an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, and the alleged trafficking is reported in the context of Sudan’s multi‑year civil war and severe humanitarian crisis.
📰 Source Timeline (5)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- The New York Times piece confirms the arrest timing and location at Los Angeles International Airport after the defendant checked luggage and was preparing to board a flight to Turkey.
- It adds narrative detail on how investigators tracked her travel patterns, communications and money flows before moving to arrest at the gate.
- The article elaborates on her personal background and business front structures in more depth than prior broadcast summaries, including how she presented herself and how long she had lived in the U.S.
- PBS/AP piece confirms the age (44) and that she is an Iranian national who became a U.S. lawful permanent resident in 2016.
- Details that she was arrested Saturday night at Los Angeles International Airport as she was about to board a flight.
- Names the Oman company as Atlas International Business and states it received over $7 million in payments in 2025.
- Specifies that she allegedly brokered sales to the Sudanese Armed Forces and a 55,000 bomb-fuse deal with the Sudanese Ministry of Defense.
- Quotes the complaint saying she submitted a letter of intent to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to purchase bomb fuses for Sudan.
- Clarifies that she faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted and is scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles on Monday.
- Confirms arrest occurred Saturday night at Los Angeles International Airport, with ABC noting an FBI-jacketed agent escorting the suspect to a sedan.
- Adds that Atlas International Business in Oman allegedly received over $7 million in payments in 2025 tied to weapons and ammunition trafficking.
- Details a separate alleged transaction involving 55,000 bomb fuses sold to the Sudanese Ministry of Defense, including a letter of intent submitted to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
- Specifies that Mafi is scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles on Monday and faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
- Places the alleged trafficking in the context of Sudan being in its fourth year of a bloody civil war and a severe humanitarian crisis.
- Suspect is identified as Shamim Mafi, 44, a lawful permanent resident living in Woodland Hills, California, arrested Friday at LAX while allegedly about to board a flight to Turkey.
- She is charged under 50 U.S.C. § 1705 with conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act by brokering Iranian-made weapons sales, including Mohajer-6 armed drones, to Sudan's Ministry of Defense.
- The complaint alleges she arranged or pursued contracts including a $70.6 million drone deal, 55,000 bomb fuses, 10 million rounds of AK-47 ammunition, and a proposed 240 million-round ammunition contract.
- DOJ says she obtained U.S. permanent residency in 2016 under the Obama administration and maintains frequent travel to Iran, Turkey, Oman and other countries.
- The FBI complaint cites about 62 bidirectional contacts between Mafi and a phone number linked to an officer of Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security between December 2022 and June 2025.
- First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli publicly announced the arrest and potential 20-year maximum sentence on X and said she will make an initial court appearance in downtown Los Angeles.