Federal investigators in the US probe an alleged Iran-linked arms network after a Woodland Hills resident is accused of brokering drones, bombs and ammunition shipments tied to Sudan’s conflict.
US federal agents escort Shamim Mafi at Los Angeles International Airport after her arrest on allegations of trafficking weapons on behalf of Iran; her file photo is shown alongside. | X/@@USAttyEssayli
A 44-year-old Iranian national holding a US Green Card has been arrested by federal authorities at Los Angeles International Airport on suspicion of trafficking weapons on behalf of Tehran, officials said. She is expected to be produced before a US District Court in Los Angeles on Monday.
The case comes amid heightened scrutiny of alleged Iranian-linked networks operating abroad, with investigators pointing to arms transfers connected to Sudan’s ongoing civil war. The arrest also marks the third such federal action involving members of Los Angeles’ Iranian-origin community in recent weeks, according to local media reports.
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In a post on X, First Assistant US Attorney Bill Essayli said Shamim Mafi, 44, a resident of Woodland Hills, was taken into custody “for trafficking arms on behalf of the government of Iran” and will appear in court Monday afternoon.
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“She is charged with a violation of 50 U.S.C. SS 1705 for brokering the sale of drones, bombs, bomb fuses, and millions of rounds of ammunition manufactured by Iran and sold to Sudan,” Essayli said.
Last night, Shamim Mafi, 44, of Woodland Hills, was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport for trafficking arms on behalf of the government of Iran. She is charged with a violation of 50 U.S.C. § 1705 for brokering the sale of drones, bombs, bomb fuses, and millions of… pic.twitter.com/l39Gf1WVed
— F.A. United States Attorney Bill Essayli (@USAttyEssayli) April 19, 2026
Authorities said Mafi, an Iranian citizen who became a lawful permanent resident of the United States in 2016, could face up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted.
According to officials cited in US media reports, one of the key transactions under scrutiny involves a contract exceeding USD 70 million for Iranian-made Mohajer-6 armed drones, allegedly sourced from Iran’s Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces Logistics.
The drones and around 55,000 bomb fuses were reportedly supplied to Sudan’s Ministry of Defence, which has been engaged in a prolonged and violent civil war since 2023.
A report in the Los Angeles Times said Mafi was detained at the airport while preparing to board a flight to Turkey.
Court records cited by US media suggest Mafi moved from Iran to Istanbul in 2013 before settling in Los Angeles, where she lived in Woodland Hills. Investigators allege she later began working for Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security, using an Oman-based shell company to facilitate the movement of weapons and funds.
Officials claim she maintained contacts with Iranian authorities between December 2022 and June 2025, with phone records indicating direct communication during that period.
According to The New York Post, Mafi and her company routed transactions through Turkey and the United Arab Emirates to avoid US scrutiny. The Los Angeles Times reported that in July 2024, during intense fighting in Khartoum, a Sudanese broker contacted Mafi via WhatsApp to arrange a shipment of Qods Mohajer-6 drones.
The complaint also alleges that some of the weapons reached Sudan through China.
Investigators say Mafi used her government connections to resolve a property dispute linked to her late father’s inheritance and to secure an exemption for her son from mandatory military service in Iran.
However, according to The New York Post, Mafi told investigators she had never been tasked by Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security to carry out any activities for Tehran inside the United States.
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