Woodland Hills woman arrested at LAX for allegedly trafficking arms for Iran

Woman accused of trafficking arms for Iran

Shamim Mafi, of Woodland Hills, was arrested at LAX over alleged arms trafficking for Iran.

LOS ANGELES - Federal authorities carried out a major arrest at LAX Saturday night.

Officials say Shamim Mafi is an Iranian national who became a lawful permanent resident of the United States in 2016.

Bill Essayli, first assistant U.S. attorney for the Central District of California, posted on X, saying Mafi, 44, of Woodland Hills, was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport "for trafficking arms on behalf of the government of Iran."

According to U.S. officials, she is charged with brokering the sale of drones, bombs, bomb fuses and millions of rounds of ammunition manufactured by Iran and sold to Sudan.

According to the criminal complaint, she maintains a residence in Woodland Hills and travels frequently to Iran, Turkey and other countries.

As the war in Iran continues, some in the Valley are applauding federal agents' actions Saturday night.

"It’s magnificent that they’re cracking down, and they have to stick to it. You know, you start a game, you finish it," one San Fernando Valley resident told FOX 11.

According to the complaint, law enforcement had learned Mafi was scheduled to travel from LAX to Turkey Saturday.

If convicted, she faces a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison.

She is expected to make her initial appearance on Monday afternoon in U.S. District Court.