An Iranian woman, Shamim Mafi, has been arrested at Los Angeles airport on charges of allegedly trafficking arms for Iran.
Mafi, a 44-year-old Green Card holder, was based out of Woodland Hills in Los Angeles and was known for her expensive lifestyle.
She has been charged under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) and could face a sentence of up to 20 years if convicted.
Mafi allegedly brokered a deal for the sale of Iran-manufactured arms to Sudan, including drones, bombs, bomb fuses, and millions of rounds of ammunition.
She obtained a Green Card from the US government in 2016 and has been in the US permanently since.
Her company in Oman allegedly received payments in excess of $7 million in 2025, which has come under scanner as the complainant alleges that the money is proceeds from the sale of 5,000 bomb fuses to the Sudanese Ministry of Defense.
Mafi will make her first court appearance at the US District Court in downtown Los Angeles on Monday, April 20.
