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A Los Angeles woman was taken into custody on Saturday night at Los Angeles International Airport, accused of aiding Iran in trafficking weapons to Sudan amid its ongoing civil war. Federal prosecutors revealed this development concerning 44-year-old Shamim Mafi, who faces allegations related to facilitating the sale of military equipment, including drones, bombs, bomb fuses, and vast amounts of ammunition, to the Sudanese Armed Forces.
First U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli shared these charges via social media on Sunday, highlighting the serious implications of such activities in a conflict-ridden region. Efforts to reach Mafi for comment have been unsuccessful, as no contact number was available, and it remains unclear if she has secured legal representation.
Essayli also shared an image depicting an individual in an FBI jacket escorting a woman into a vehicle outside one of LAX’s terminals, presumably capturing the moment of Mafi’s arrest.
Mafi, originally from Iran, has been living in the United States as a lawful permanent resident since 2016, according to Essayli. The case underscores the complexities of international arms trafficking and its impact on global conflicts.
Mafi is an Iranian national who became a lawful permanent resident of the United States in 2016, Essayli said.
She is scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles on Monday. If convicted, she could face up to 20 years in prison.
The Sudanese civil war has created a humanitarian crisis in the North African country where food supplies are dwindling and millions of people have fled their homes.