Arms Trafficking

Iranian U.S. permanent resident arrested at LAX on allegation of brokering Iranian weapons sales to Sudan

19. april 2026 Rapporteret af AI Billede genereret af AI Faktatjekket

Federal prosecutors say Shamim Mafi, a 44-year-old Iranian national and lawful U.S. permanent resident, was arrested on April 19, 2026, at Los Angeles International Airport as she prepared to fly abroad. Authorities allege she helped broker sales of Iranian-made military equipment—including drones, bomb components and large quantities of ammunition—linked to Sudan’s military, in a scheme prosecutors say was designed to evade U.S. sanctions.