THE NORDIC MONITOR -- A newly unsealed US federal indictment has exposed Turkey as a major logistical and financial hub in a covert Iranian weapons-trafficking network that supplied drones, ammunition and bomb components to Sudan’s military.
The indictment, filed in federal court in California, charges Iranian national Shamim Mafi with conspiring to violate US sanctions by helping broker arms deals connected to the IRGC, Iran’s Ministry of Defense and Sudanese military entities. Prosecutors say the network used Turkey as a preferred base to move money, arrange payments and coordinate sensitive transactions for Iranian military exports.
According to the report, Turkish banks, exchange offices and companies were allegedly used to transfer funds from Sudan to people and entities linked to the Iranian regime. The case also points to the use of cash-based money exchange systems in Turkey to avoid formal banking channels and reduce the risk of detection.
The alleged deals included Iranian-made Mohajer-6 armed drones, aerial bombs, bomb fuses, AK-47 ammunition and other military hardware destined for Sudan. One contract discussed 240 million rounds of AK-47 ammunition valued at more than $100 million.