Egyptian TV Host Among 12 Sentenced to Death in Drug Trafficking Case

An Egyptian court has sentenced television presenter Sarah Khalifa and 11 other individuals to death after convicting them of involvement in a large-scale drug trafficking and manufacturing operation.

The court found the defendants guilty of being part of an organised criminal group that allegedly imported raw materials into Egypt to produce synthetic drugs for distribution. Prosecutors said the network had assigned specific roles to its members, with some handling imports, others managing production, and a separate group overseeing distribution.

Investigators reported recovering over 750 kilograms of narcotics and precursor substances during the probe. They also discovered two apartments that had allegedly been converted into drug manufacturing laboratories, along with unlicensed firearms and ammunition.

In addition to the 12 death sentences, the court handed life imprisonment to nine other defendants and acquitted seven people. The death verdicts, initially issued last month, required formal confirmation after a mandatory religious opinion from Egypt's Grand Mufti, as per the country's legal procedure for capital cases.

Khalifa, 39, known for presenting the crime-focused television programme Mission Impossible, has denied all allegations and maintains her innocence. During a court hearing in September, she reportedly told the judge she had never encountered drugs before being photographed with them at the offices of Egypt's anti-narcotics authority. She also claimed she had never smoked a cigarette in her life.

Egyptian media reported that Khalifa became emotional in court, appealing for leniency and stating that her parents raised her well and that she did not need drug money. Her lawyer has indicated that an appeal will be filed against the sentence.

Prosecutors based their case on testimonies from 20 witnesses, along with technical and digital evidence, including messages, photographs, and videos allegedly showing the group's activities. Khalifa was arrested in Cairo in April 2025 during the investigation. Besides her media career, she reportedly runs a cosmetic surgery clinic and a production company that organises events.