Iranian Operative Arrested at LAX Over Drone Deal with Sudan
Federal agents apprehended 44-year-old Shamim Mafi at Los Angeles International Airport on Saturday night as she attempted to board a flight to Turkey. Prosecutors allege that Mafi, a resident of Woodland Hills, has been involved in brokering Iranian weapons deals, including a significant contract for armed drones valued at $70 million intended for Sudan’s military.
Details of the Charges
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli announced the arrest on social media, stating that Mafi faces a charge of violating U.S. sanctions under 50 U.S.C. § 1705. A criminal complaint filed on March 12 claims that Mafi operated an Oman-based front company named Atlas International Business LLC, which received over $7 million in 2025 alone. The payments were reportedly funneled through Turkey and the United Arab Emirates to evade U.S. banking regulations.
Investigators noted that Mafi maintained approximately 62 communications with an officer from Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security between December 2022 and June 2025, and coordinated with individuals linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
The Drone Deal
The drone at the center of the allegations is the Qods Mohajer-6, a medium-altitude armed drone manufactured by Iran’s state-owned Qods Aviation Industries. Court documents indicate that Mafi was involved in a contract exceeding $70.6 million for the sale of these drones to Sudan’s Ministry of Defense. A Sudanese broker reportedly initiated contact with Mafi via WhatsApp in July 2024 to discuss the deal.
The Mohajer-6, while not comparable to Western drones like the MQ-9 Reaper, has proven operational capabilities. It has a maximum takeoff weight ranging from 1,323 to 1,477 pounds, a wingspan of about 32.8 feet, and a payload capacity of approximately 220 to 331 pounds, depending on the variant. Its top speed is around 124 mph, with an endurance of about 12 hours and a service ceiling between 16,000 and 18,000 feet.
Additional Arms Transactions
In addition to the drone deal, prosecutors allege that Mafi and her co-conspirator facilitated the sale of 55,000 bomb fuses and 10 million rounds of AK-47 ammunition to Sudan’s Ministry of Defense, with plans for an additional shipment of 240 million rounds. Notably, when Sudanese officials visited Tehran to inspect the bomb fuses, Mafi was unable to attend due to restrictions at the IRGC facility and sent a male associate in her place.
Payments for these transactions reportedly utilized various methods to circumvent sanctions, including cash deliveries and banking channels in Dubai.
Context of the Conflict in Sudan
Sudan has been embroiled in a civil war for four years, with the Sudanese Armed Forces clashing with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. The United Nations has labeled the situation as the world’s largest displacement crisis, with hundreds of thousands of fatalities and over 13 million people displaced since April 2023. The Sudanese military has relied heavily on drones, including the Iranian Mohajer-6, in its ongoing conflict.
Implications of the Case
This case raises significant concerns regarding the extent of arms trafficking networks operating within the United States. Mafi, a green card holder, allegedly managed a complex operation involving shell companies and international financial transactions to facilitate the sale of military equipment to a government engaged in severe human rights violations.
The Mohajer-6 may not match the capabilities of Western drones, but its availability and the willingness of Iran to sell to various buyers pose a substantial threat. The arrest of Mafi highlights the potential for similar operations to exist undetected within U.S. borders.
Mafi is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.