Daijiworld Media Network - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, Apr 20: An Iranian-origin woman has been detained in the United States over allegations of acting as an intermediary in illegal arms deals involving the transfer of drones, explosives and other munitions between Iran and Sudan.
The accused, identified as 44-year-old Shamim Mafi, a lawful permanent resident of the United States since 2016, was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport on Saturday night.
The arrest was confirmed by Bill Essayli, First Assistant US Attorney, who stated that Mafi could face a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison if convicted. He added that she is expected to appear before the US District Court in downtown Los Angeles and is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
According to investigators, Mafi allegedly facilitated a contract worth over $70.6 million involving the sale of Mohajer-6 armed drones, manufactured in Iran, to Sudan’s Ministry of Defence. Authorities also claim she was involved in arranging additional military supplies, including 55,000 bomb fuses and ammunition deals involving around 10 million rounds for AK-47 rifles. A separate proposal reportedly included a much larger shipment of 240 million rounds.
An affidavit by the Federal Bureau of Investigation states that Mafi and her associates used a company based in Oman, Atlas International Business LLC, to handle the transactions. Payments were allegedly routed through Turkey and the United Arab Emirates to evade US sanctions and avoid detection.
The case remains under investigation as authorities continue to probe the scope of the alleged network and its activities.