Iranian National Caught at LAX Allegedly Trying To Flee After Brokering $70 Million Weapons Deal for Tehran

While the United States is locked in an ongoing conflict with Iran, an Iranian national was living comfortably in the Los Angeles suburb of Woodland Hills. But according to federal prosecutors, she wasn’t just living the California dream. She was allegedly brokering tens of millions of dollars in weapons, drones, and ammunition on behalf of the Iranian regime.

And she almost got away.

Federal authorities arrested Shamim Mafi, 44, at Los Angeles International Airport on Saturday night, just as she was reportedly about to board a flight to Turkey. The charges? Allegedly brokering the sale of Iranian-manufactured Mohajer-6 armed drones, bombs, bomb fuses, and millions of rounds of ammunition to Sudan’s Ministry of Defense in violation of U.S. sanctions.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli announced the arrest on X:

Last night, Shamim Mafi, 44, of Woodland Hills, was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport for trafficking arms on behalf of the government of Iran. She is charged with