Shamim Mafi, a 44-year-old Iranian immigrant and Woodland Hills resident, was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport on Saturday, April 19, 2026. Federal authorities allege she brokered the sale of Iranian-made drones, bombs, bomb fuses, and millions of rounds of ammunition to Sudan, violating U.S. sanctions. Mafi, who obtained a green card in 2016, is accused of working on behalf of the Iranian government to supply weapons to the Sudanese Armed Forces amid its ongoing civil war.
Mafi is charged under 50 U.S.C. § 1705 for her alleged role in the arms deals, which prosecutors say included a $70.6 million contract for Mohajer-6 armed drones and 55,000 bomb fuses. She was preparing to board a flight to Turkey when arrested. If convicted, she faces up to 20 years in prison. Mafi is expected to appear in federal court in downtown Los Angeles.
The Sudanese conflict, which began in 2023, has resulted in over 100,000 deaths and millions displaced, with Iran and Gulf States backing opposing factions. Mafi is the third individual from Los Angeles' Iranian diaspora arrested by the FBI in recent weeks. Social media posts show her posing with weapons at an arms supplier's office in Turkey, alongside personal photos from Dubai and Los Angeles.
The FBI's Iran Counterintelligence Squad led the investigation, which uncovered evidence of Mafi's alleged involvement in the weapons transactions. The case highlights ongoing U.S. efforts to enforce sanctions against Iran and disrupt its arms trafficking networks.