Iranian national arrested at LAX on suspicion of trafficking weapons on Iran government's behalf

Local News Iranian national arrested at LAX on suspicion of trafficking weapons on Iran government's behalf By Austin Turner Austin Turner Web Producer, CBS News Los Angeles Austin Turner is a web producer at CBS News Los Angeles. An Inland Empire native, Austin earned a degree in journalism from San Jose State University in 2020. Before joining CBS News in 2025, he worked at KTLA, the San Jose Mercury News, the Sedona Red Rock News and various other outlets as a news and sports reporter. Read Full Bio Austin Turner April 19, 2026 / 10:41 AM EDT / CBS LA Add CBS News on Google Federal authorities on Saturday night arrested an Iranian national at Los Angeles International Airport on suspicion of trafficking weapons on the Iranian government's behalf, according to officials.In a post to X, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said Shamim Mafi, 44 of Woodland Hills, is expected to make an appearance in U.S. District Court on Monday afternoon in downtown Los Angeles.  Federal authorities on Saturday night arrested an Iranian national at Los Angeles International Airport on suspicion of trafficking weapons on the Iranian government's behalf, according to officials. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli She's accused of violating 50 U.S.C. § 1705, alleging that she brokered "the sale of drones, bombs, bomb fuses and millions of rounds of ammunition manufactured by Iran and sold to Sudan," Essayli said.Essayli said Mafi is an Iranian national, and that she became a lawful permanent resident of the U.S. in 2016.Mafi could face a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison if convicted.  .component--type-recirculation { .item:nth-child(7), .card-recirc:nth-child(7) { display: none; } } #inline-recirc-item--id-b677cc1f-7e0f-431b-8457-18db74bf720f, #right-rail-recirc-item--id-b677cc1f-7e0f-431b-8457-18db74bf720f { display: none; } #inline-recirc-item--id-b677cc1f-7e0f-431b-8457-18db74bf720f ~ .item:nth-child(7) { display: block; } © 2026 CBS B...