An Iranian American woman was detained in Los Angeles on suspicion of trafficking in weapons.

After reportedly smuggling weapons to contacts in Sudan and other parts of Africa on behalf of the Iranian government, a California lady was detained at the international airport in Los Angeles. According to the senior federal prosecutor in Los Angeles, federal investigators arrested Woodland Hills resident Shamim Mafi, 44, on Saturday night.

In a post on X, Bill Essayli, first assistant US attorney for the central district of California, stated that Mafi was accused of “brokering the sale of drones, bombs, bomb fuses, and millions of rounds of ammunition manufactured.”

Since 2016, Mafi, an Iranian national, has been a lawful permanent resident of the United States. According to a criminal complaint, Mafi resides in the United States but frequently goes to Iran, Turkey, and Oman.

According to the allegation, Mafi resided in Istanbul, Turkey, between 2013 and 2016. Mafi said in an interview with federal officials that her first spouse worked as an officer with Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security, which is the country’s intelligence branch.

Records found during an authorized search claim that Mafi and a co-conspirator—who was not identified in court documents—brokered weapons purchases through their company, Atlas International. According to the lawsuit, the illegal weapons dealing allegedly occurred in a number of places, including California.

In one such transaction, Mafi allegedly helped the Iranian government sell drones made in Iran to Sudan’s defense ministry for a sum exceeding €60 million. After “[coordinating] the Sudanese delegation’s travel to Iran,” Mafi reportedly received $6 million.Since 2023, Sudan has been embroiled in a civil war that has displaced up to 13 million people and killed hundreds of thousands of civilians.

Images of Mafi enjoying a beach day in California and posing with guns at a warehouse in Turkey have been shared on social media.Mafi may spend up to 20 years in federal prison if found guilty. On Monday, she is scheduled to appear in court for the first time at the US district court in Los Angeles.