Woodland Hills Woman Arrested at LAX for Iranian Arms Trafficking
Federal agents arrested Shamim Mafi, 44, at Los Angeles International Airport on suspicion of brokering weapons from Iran to Sudanese forces. A criminal complaint filed in federal court in Los Angeles preceded the arrest by hours.
Arrest and allegations
Mafi was detained Saturday night while preparing to board a flight to Turkey. Authorities say she arranged sales of drones, bombs, bomb fuses and millions of rounds of ammunition.
The complaint links her activities to the Sudanese Armed Forces. Prosecutors say her actions helped fuel a brutal civil war in Sudan.
How the network allegedly worked
Federal papers identify an Omani shell company as the export vehicle. The same documents name the Sudanese Ministry of Defense as the buyer.
Investigators allege Mafi used contacts inside Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security. She emigrated to Istanbul in 2013 and later settled in Woodland Hills.
Money flows and logistics
The complaint describes complex payment methods to evade sanctions. Some funds arrived in crates of $100 bills.
Other transfers used hawalas and banks in Dubai. Court records show Mafi advising that payments be kept in small amounts.
Weapons and supply chains
Documents allege contracts included Qods Mohajer-6 drones. Those drones have previously appeared in other international conflicts.
At least some military material reportedly transited through China. Meetings between Mafi and Sudanese contacts occurred in Iran.
One planned inspection stalled when the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps barred her entry. She then sent a male associate in her place.
Public footprint and industry ties
Social media images linked to her show military hardware and leisure photos in Dubai and Los Angeles. Federal filings state she helped a Turkish supplier gain access to a U.S. defense trade show.
Authorities note she received a U.S. green card in 2016. The complaint also alleges she used government contacts to resolve personal matters, including an inheritance dispute and her son’s military obligations.
Legal status and wider context
Mafi is expected to appear in federal court downtown on Monday. If convicted, she faces up to 20 years in prison.
The alleged transfers took place amid Sudan’s civil war, estimated to have killed more than 100,000 people since 2023. The conflict has displaced millions and is among the deadliest proxy fights linked to Persian Gulf rivalries.
Filmogaz.com will continue following developments in the case. The Woodland Hills woman arrested at LAX drew attention for alleged Iranian arms trafficking tied to the Sudan war.
