Federal authorities say a Saturday night arrest at Los Angeles International Airport has exposed a suspected international weapons pipeline tied to Iran. Prosecutors allege an Iranian national living in Woodland Hills helped broker sales of Iranian-made drones, bombs, bomb fuses and millions of rounds of ammunition that were ultimately shipped to Sudan. The case has been charged under a federal sanctions statute and is being treated as an international arms trafficking prosecution. The suspect is scheduled for a first federal court appearance Monday in downtown Los Angeles.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli announced the arrest in X, identifying the defendant as 44-year-old Shamim Mafi of Woodland Hills and noting she became a lawful permanent resident in 2016. Essayli said Mafi was taken into custody at LAX on Saturday and is expected to make her initial appearance in U.S. District Court on Monday afternoon.
What prosecutors allege
According to charging allegations described by CBS Los Angeles, Mafi is accused of brokering the sale of Iranian-manufactured drones, bombs, bomb fuses and "millions of rounds of ammunition" to Sudan. Prosecutors say the conduct violated U.S. export control and sanctions laws that are intended to choke off Tehran's ability to arm foreign actors.
Charges and legal exposure
The case is being brought under 50 U.S.C. § 1705, part of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, which criminalizes willful violations of U.S. sanctions. A conviction under that statute can carry significant fines and a prison sentence of up to 20 years, according to Cornell Law's Legal Information Institute. As is typical, prosecutors have not publicly disclosed every detail ahead of the unsealing of the full charging documents, and Mafi, like any defendant, is presumed innocent while the case moves through federal court.
Federal enforcement context
The arrest comes as the Justice Department has been ramping up prosecutions aimed at networks that move Iranian-made weaponry abroad. In October 2025, the department secured a 40-year sentence for a defendant convicted of transporting Iranian-made advanced conventional weapons, a case officials said highlighted the priority placed on counter‑proliferation enforcement, according to the Justice Department.
Next steps
Mafi is scheduled to appear Monday afternoon in federal court in downtown Los Angeles, where prosecutors are expected to address detention and propose an initial schedule for the case. More details about the alleged weapons deals and Mafi's role could emerge as charging documents and other filings become public in the coming days.
