TV Presenter Sarah Khalifa, 11 Others Sentenced to Death in Shocking Drug Case

A shocking court ruling in Egypt has put a well-known television presenter at the centre of a major drug trafficking case, after she and 11 others were sentenced to death over alleged narcotics manufacturing and trafficking.

Egypt Sentences TV Presenter Sarah Khalifa, 11 Others to Death in Drug Trafficking Case
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TV Presenter Sarah Khalifa Sentenced to Death With 11 Others in Egypt Drug Case
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Egyptian TV presenter Sarah Khalifa, 39, and 11 others have been sentenced to death by hanging by a Cairo court over charges linked to the manufacture and trafficking of synthetic drugs. The verdict is subject to appeal.

A Cairo court in Egypt has sentenced well-known television presenter Sarah Khalifa and 11 others to death in a major drug trafficking case involving the alleged manufacture and distribution of synthetic narcotics.

The 39-year-old presenter, who is known for her television programme, “Mission Impossible”, was convicted alongside the other defendants over charges linked to an organised criminal network.

The case has drawn widespread attention because of Khalifa’s profile as a television personality and businesswoman.

According to the state-linked Al-Ahram newspaper, the court sentenced Khalifa and the 11 others to death by hanging.

They were convicted of forming an organised criminal gang that allegedly specialised in obtaining materials used to manufacture narcotics, with the intention of trafficking the drugs.

The defendants were also accused of possessing and carrying unlicensed firearms and ammunition.

The court’s decision came after Egypt’s Grand Mufti was consulted for a religious opinion, a procedure required under Egyptian law before a death sentence can be confirmed.

However, the verdict is not yet final. The defendants have the right to appeal the decision.

How the drug case unfolded

According to the state-run Akhbar Al-Youm, the defendants were accused of manufacturing synthetic drugs for distribution after allegedly importing materials used in the production process from abroad.

Al-Ahram reported that authorities seized more than 750 kilograms of narcotics and raw materials during the investigation.

Two apartments allegedly used as drug laboratories were also discovered, while firearms and ammunition were reportedly recovered.

Khalifa is also known for her business activities. She owns a plastic surgery clinic and a production company that organises parties and other events.

Separate kidnapping and assault case

The television presenter was also sentenced to five years in prison alongside some of the defendants in a separate case.

That case involved the alleged kidnapping and assault of a young man.

The two cases were therefore handled separately, with the death sentence linked to the drug trafficking case.

Egypt’s death penalty

Egypt retains the death penalty for certain serious offences, including premeditated murder, terrorism, some rape offences and drug trafficking.

According to the Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms, 541 death sentences were issued in Egypt in 2025.

The latest verdict against Khalifa and the other defendants remains subject to appeal.