Egyptian TV Host Sarah Khalifa and 11 Others Sentenced to Death in Major Synthetic Drug Trafficking Case

Egyptian television presenter Sarah Khalifa and 11 other defendants have received death sentences following their convictions for membership in an organised criminal group engaged in the manufacturing and trafficking of synthetic drugs. The Cairo Criminal Court determined that the defendants were guilty of importing raw materials for synthetic narcotics production, manufacturing the substances, and preparing them for distribution.

Ms Khalifa, 39, is a media personality recognised for hosting a programme focused on crime-related topics. She has maintained her innocence throughout the proceedings. The broader case encompassed 28 defendants in total. According to prosecutors, the syndicate operated with a structured division of labour, assigning specific members to handle the importation of raw materials, drug manufacturing, and distribution logistics.

Reports from Egypt's state-owned Al Ahram newspaper and state-run Akhbar Al Youm indicated that investigators confiscated over 750kg of synthetic narcotics along with production materials. The syndicate allegedly utilized a residential property to store supplies and manufacture the illicit drugs. Furthermore, the defendants were convicted of possessing unlicensed firearms and ammunition, according to the same reports.

The prosecution's case relied on testimony from 20 witnesses, alongside technical and digital evidence such as messages, photographs, and videos that reportedly documented the criminal operations. Akhbar Al Youm reported that during a court appearance last September, Ms Khalifa told the judge she had never encountered the drugs prior to being photographed with them at the anti-narcotics authority's offices, firmly denying any participation in the criminal enterprise.

Authorities stated that two remaining defendants are still at large and have been subjected to travel bans and watch lists. Ms Khalifa was initially arrested in Cairo in April 2025 as part of the ongoing inquiry. In accordance with Egyptian capital case procedures, the death sentences were forwarded to Egypt's Grand Mufti for a consultative opinion, which remains advisory and non-binding on the court. The verdict received formal confirmation on Saturday following the receipt of the mufti's stance.

Ms Khalifa and the remaining co-defendants sentenced to death retain the right to appeal their verdicts before Egypt's Court of Cassation, which serves as the nation's highest criminal court. While Egypt applies the capital punishment for severe crimes including drug trafficking, all executions remain subject to extensive legal and judicial reviews.