United States federal authorities have arrested a person identified as Shamim Mafi at Los Angeles International Airport on allegations of weapons trafficking linked to Sudan, according to a statement from the U.S. Justice Department.
The arrest, which took place on Saturday night, has drawn attention within Tongan communities overseas and on social media due to the surname “Mafi,” which is commonly associated with Tonga.
However, U.S. authorities have not disclosed any information indicating that the suspect has Tongan heritage or any connection to Tonga.
The first assistant United States attorney for the Central District of California, Bill Essayli, said the suspect, Shamim Mafi, 44, is an Iranian national who has lived in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, and obtained lawful permanent resident status in the United States in 2016.
Essayli said Mafi is accused of facilitating the sale of Iranian‑manufactured military equipment, including drones, explosives, detonators and large quantities of ammunition, allegedly destined for Sudan.
She submitted “a letter of intent” to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to broker the sale of 55,000 bomb fuses to Sudan’s defence ministry, the BBC reported.
If found guilty, she could face a maximum sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison.
The allegations remain before the courts, and the suspect is presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
A Tongan reader who shared the story with Kaniva News said it would be interesting to know that the surname Mafi is also of Iranian origin.
In the Tongan language, Mafi conveys meanings associated with strength, victory, or a champion, and is traditionally linked to spiritual power attributed to God.
The name has also been used culturally to designate individuals appointed as matāpule, or talking chiefs.
Mafi is among the most commonly used names in Tonga, comparable to names such as John or Mary in English‑speaking countries.
