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Iranian national arrested in LA on suspicion of arms trafficking for Iran, reports US attorney

An Iranian national has been arrested on suspicion of trafficking arms on behalf of the Iranian government, according to a US attorney.

Bill Essayli, first assistant US attorney for the Central District of California, said on social media that Shamim Mafi, 44, was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport.

He added that the woman is charged with brokering "the sale of drones, bombs, bomb fuses, and millions of rounds of ammunition manufactured by Iran and sold to Sudan".

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

Mafi is an Iranian national who became a permanent US resident in 2016, he added.

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Mafi is expected to appear at the US District Court in downtown Los Angeles on Monday.

Sky News

(c) Sky News 2026: Iranian national arrested in LA on suspicion of arms trafficking for Iran, reports US attorney <

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