A seemingly ordinary life in Woodland Hills, California, concealed a dangerous secret. Shamim Mafi, a 44-year-old Iranian woman and legal resident of the United States, was arrested Saturday night at Los Angeles International Airport, accused of orchestrating massive arms deals for the Iranian government.
The charges are staggering: brokering the sale of armed drones, bombs, bomb fuses, and millions of rounds of ammunition, all destined for the conflict-torn nation of Sudan. Federal prosecutors allege Mafi violated the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, a serious offense carrying a potential 20-year prison sentence.
Court records reveal Mafi allegedly operated through an Oman-registered company, Atlas International Business, facilitating these transactions as recently as 2025. One deal alone involved over $70 million for Iranian-made Mohajer-6 armed drones, directly supplied by Iran’s Ministry of Defense.
The scope of the alleged operation extends beyond mere sales. Investigators uncovered phone records indicating direct communication between Mafi and Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security between December 2022 and June 2025, suggesting a high level of coordination.
The weapons weren’t simply stockpiled; they were actively transferred. The drones and 55,000 bomb fuses were delivered to Sudan’s Ministry of Defense, a nation embroiled in a brutal civil war since 2023. This transfer directly fuels the ongoing conflict.
Iran has faced repeated accusations of violating a United Nations arms embargo related to the Sudanese conflict, with its drones reportedly identified in use by government forces. Mafi’s alleged actions represent a significant escalation of those violations.
The contrast between Mafi’s alleged activities and her public persona is striking. Online, she presented a life of luxury, posting glamorous photos from around the world, including one showcasing a $100,000 Mercedes-Benz roadster. This image sharply contrasts with the gravity of the accusations against her.
Mafi arrived in the United States in 2013 and secured permanent residency in 2016. Now, she awaits her initial court appearance in downtown Los Angeles, facing the possibility of a lengthy prison term and the unraveling of a clandestine operation with far-reaching consequences.
