Woman arrested in LA for ‘trafficking arms on behalf of the government of Iran’
US officials have announced the arrest of an alleged arms trafficker in Los Angeles.
The 44-year-old woman has been charged by police, who are accusing her of selling weapons manufactured by Iran.
First Assistant US Attorney Bill Essayli said in a post on X Shamim Mafi – an Iranian national who became a lawful permanent resident of the US in 2016 – was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport for “trafficking arms on behalf of the government of Iran”.
“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,” he said.
“If convicted, she faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.”
Ms Mafi is expected to make her initial appearance on Monday afternoon in the US District Court in downtown LA.
