California Green Card Holder Charged In Alleged Iran-Sudan Arms Trafficking Scheme
Shamim Mafi, a California green card holder, was arrested at LAX on charges of brokering Iranian weapons sales to Sudan. Federal prosecutors say the 44-year-old Woodland Hills resident was taken into custody Saturday night as she prepared to board a flight to Turkey. She is charged with conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) by allegedly brokering Iranian-made weapons, including Mohajer-6 armed drones, to Sudan's Ministry of Defense.
The unsealed complaint alleges she arranged or pursued contracts that included a $70.6 million drone deal, 55,000 bomb fuses and 10 million rounds of AK-47 ammunition. It also mentions a proposed 240 million-round ammunition contract and a separate 55,000-fuse sale to Sudan's Ministry of Defense supported by a letter of intent to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The FBI says she maintained frequent travel to Iran and other countries. It recorded about 62 bidirectional contacts with a number linked to an officer in Iran's Ministry of Intelligence and Security between December 2022 and June 2025. An Oman-based company named Atlas International Business allegedly received more than $7 million in 2025 tied to weapons and ammunition transactions. Prosecutors say Mafi obtained U.S. permanent residency in 2016 and now faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted. She is due to make an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in downtown Los Angeles on Monday.
Initial social posts gave only a brief arrest notice, while later mainstream reporting added names, alleged transaction values and details from the unsealed complaint. Fox News published the suspect's identity and criminal charge details, and outlets such as ABC and PBS reported on payments, an IRGC letter of intent and the Sudan context. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli publicly announced the arrest on the social platform X, drawing attention to the potential 20-year maximum sentence. The allegations underscore concerns about external arms flows worsening Sudan's fourth year of civil war and its severe humanitarian crisis.
📌 Key Facts
- The suspect is identified as Shamim Mafi, 44, an Iranian national who became a U.S. lawful permanent resident in 2016 and lives in Woodland Hills, California.
- Federal authorities arrested Mafi at Los Angeles International Airport Saturday night as she was about to board a flight (reported to be to Turkey); ABC noted an FBI‑jacketed agent escorting her and the U.S. Attorney’s Office publicly announced the arrest and upcoming court appearance.
- 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 — including Mohajer-6 armed drones — to Sudan’s Ministry of Defense/Sudanese Armed Forces.
- The criminal complaint alleges she arranged or pursued large contracts including a $70.6 million drone deal, sale of 55,000 bomb fuses (with a letter of intent submitted to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps), 10 million rounds of AK-47 ammunition, and a proposed 240 million-round ammunition contract.
- An Oman-based company named Atlas International Business is identified in the complaint and allegedly received over $7 million in payments in 2025 tied to weapons and ammunition trafficking.
- The FBI complaint cites roughly 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.
- 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.
- Reports place the alleged trafficking in the broader context of Sudan’s fourth year of civil war and a severe humanitarian crisis.
📰 Source Timeline (4)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- 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.