California Woman Arrested for Allegedly Smuggling Weapons to Iranian Government
Shamim Mafi as seen in a photo released by First Asst. U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California Bill Essayli. A woman is under arrest in California for allegedly trafficking arms on behalf of Iran. On Saturday, 44-year-old Shamim Mafi was detained at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). According to First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli, Mafi, a California resident, was charged with brokering deals involving Iranian drones, bombs, and ammunition that were allegedly intended for Sudan. In addition to the accusations, authorities say records linked her to Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security. Court documents indicated that the ministry allegedly provided instructions and funding for her to establish a business in the United States to operate from. “She is charged with a violation of 50 U.S.C. § 1705 for brokering the sale of drones, bombs, bomb fuses, and millions of rounds of ammunition manufactured by Iran and sold to Sudan,” First Assistant US Attorne...