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Iranian Green Card Holder Arrested at LAX on Charges of Arms Brokering for Iran and Sudan

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Case Summary

Federal authorities arrested Shamim Mafi, 44, a Iranian national and U.S. green card holder from Woodland Hills, California, at Los Angeles International Airport on Saturday, April 19, 2026. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli announced the arrest on X, charging Mafi with arms trafficking on behalf of the Iranian government. She was expected to appear in court Monday, April 21, 2026. The court and docket number have not been publicly confirmed. The charges place Mafi at the center of a federal arms brokering investigation involving Iran and Sudan — two countries subject to extensive U.S. sanctions and export control regimes. Arms trafficking on behalf of a sanctioned foreign government carries severe federal penalties. Details about the specific weapons involved, co-conspirators, and the scope of the alleged scheme have not been released.

Latest development

Woman with glam lifestyle held at US airport ; charged with brokering deals for Iran drones , bombs , ammo for Sudan

Media Coverage · April 20, 2026

Federal authorities arrested Shamim Mafi, 44, a Green Card holder from Woodland Hills, California, at Los Angeles International Airport on Saturday night on charges of brokering arms deals on behalf of the Iranian government. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli announced the charge: a violation of 50 U.S.C. § 1705 for arranging the sale of Iranian-made drones, bombs, bomb fuses, and millions of rounds of

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Key Issues

  • • Federal arms trafficking charges under U.S. export control and sanctions law
  • • Alleged brokering on behalf of Iranian government, a sanctioned state
  • • Involvement of Sudan as a secondary recipient country
  • • Immigration status implications for a green card holder facing federal felony charges
  • • Sufficiency of evidence supporting arrest at port of entry
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Media Coverage 2 hours ago
Federal authorities arrested Shamim Mafi, 44, a Green Card holder from Woodland Hills, California, at Los Angeles International Airport on Saturday night on charges of brokering arms deals on behalf of the Iranian government. First Assistan
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ANI 20 Apr 2026, 12:29 GMT+10 Los Angeles US , April 20 (ANI): The 44-year-old Iranian woman with a US Green Card who was arrested by US Federal authorities on Saturday night at Los Angeles International Airport on suspicion of trafficking weapons on the Iranian government's behalf is expected to be produced in court on Monday, according to officials cited by local media. In a post on X, First Assistant US Attorney Bill Essayli said Shamim Mafi, 44, of Woodland Hills, was arrested 'for trafficki

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Case Timeline

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newspaper
Media Coverage April 20, 2026

Woman with glam lifestyle held at US airport ; charged with brokering deals for Iran drones , bombs , ammo for Sudan

Federal authorities arrested Shamim Mafi, 44, a Green Card holder from Woodland Hills, California, at Los Angeles International Airport on Saturday night on charges of brokering arms deals on behalf of the Iranian government. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli announced the charge: a violation of 50 U.S.C. § 1705 for arranging the sale of Iranian-made drones, bombs, bomb fuses, and millions of rounds of ammunition to Sudan. Mafi was expected to appear in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles on Monday afternoon.

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