Egyptian TV Presenter Sarah Khalifa Sentenced to Death in Major Drug Trafficking Case

Egyptian television presenter Sarah Khalifa and 11 other individuals have been sentenced to death by hanging following their conviction on serious drug charges.

The Cairo criminal court delivered the death sentences after ruling that the defendants formed an organised criminal gang dedicated to acquiring materials for manufacturing narcotics with the intent to traffic them, as reported by the state-linked Al-Ahram outlet on Saturday. Additionally, the court sentenced nine co-defendants to life imprisonment and acquitted seven others in a sprawling case involving 28 defendants and over 750kg of narcotics.

Sarah Khalifa, 39, gained recognition for hosting the security and crime show \"Mission Impossible\" on the private Al-Mehwar TV channel. Beyond her broadcasting career, she owned a cosmetic surgery clinic and an event planning company, while also boasting a large social media following of over two million users on Instagram.

During the proceedings, Sarah Khalifa maintained her innocence, denying all allegations and telling investigators she had \"never smoked a cigarette in my life.\" Egyptian media reported that she broke down in tears during the session, pleading with the court for mercy and stating, \"Please listen to me, sir. My parents raised me well; they are people who pray, and I don’t need drug money.\"

According to prosecutors, the syndicate imported raw materials from overseas to produce synthetic drugs, storing the substances within residential properties. Authorities stated that members split responsibilities across procurement, manufacturing, and distribution, while investigators also recovered unlicensed firearms and ammunition alongside the narcotics.

The verdict was finalized after the court consulted Egypt’s grand mufti, adhering to the legal requirement for capital cases, and remains subject to appeal before the Court of Cassation. Sarah Khalifa was initially arrested in April 2025 as part of the ongoing probe. In a separate ruling delivered the same day, the court sentenced her to three years in prison for assaulting and filming her driver.