In brief
Shamim Mafi, a 44-year-old Iranian national living in Los Angeles, has been arrested for allegedly brokering a significant arms deal between Iran and Sudan. According to federal prosecutors, Mafi was involved in trafficking drones, bombs, and millions of rounds of ammunition to the Sudanese Armed Forces, with the reported intent of aiding in the ongoing civil war that has resulted in dire humanitarian consequences in Sudan. Mafi faces serious charges that could lead to a 20-year prison sentence if convicted.
LOS ANGELES — A 44-year-old Los Angeles woman, identified as Shamim Mafi, has been arrested at Los Angeles International Airport on suspicions of facilitating arms trafficking from Iran to Sudan, which is amid a civil war now in its fourth year.
According to First U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli, Mafi is being charged with brokering a deal involving drones, bombs, bomb fuses, and millions of rounds of ammunition intended for Sudanese military forces.
Mafi, who has been a lawful permanent resident in the U.S. since 2016, allegedly operated a business in Oman called Atlas International Business through which the transactions took place, involving more than $7 million in payments in 2025.
The court documents reveal that Mafi, alongside an unidentified accomplice, secured a contract to provide the Sudanese Ministry of Defense with 55,000 bomb fuses.
Prior to her arrest, Mafi had submitted a letter of intent to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to facilitate these purchases.
Mafi is set to appear in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles on Monday. If convicted, she faces a potential prison sentence of up to 20 years.
The civil war in Sudan has caused a widespread humanitarian crisis, severely impacting food security and displacing millions of people from their homes.
