Egyptian TV Presenter Sarah Khalifa Among 12 Sentenced to Death in Major Drugs Case

Cairo — A Cairo criminal court has sentenced prominent Egyptian television presenter Sarah Khalifa and 11 co-defendants to death by hanging after convicting them of forming an organised criminal gang involved in the importation of materials used to manufacture synthetic narcotics for trafficking, as well as the possession of unlicensed firearms and ammunition.

The verdict, delivered on Saturday, 5 September 2026, and reported by state-owned Al-Ahram newspaper, followed the mandatory consultation with Egypt’s Grand Mufti, whose religious opinion is required under Egyptian law in capital cases.

The Mufti’s advice is only advisory and non-binding.

Khalifa (39) and the other defendants sentenced to death still have the right to appeal to the Court of Cassation, Egypt’s highest court for criminal matters.

Her lawyer has indicated that an appeal will be lodged.

Khalifa is best known for hosting the programme Mission Impossible, which focused on crime and security issues.

She also maintained a significant social media presence with more than two million Instagram followers, operated a cosmetic surgery clinic and ran an event production company.

Prosecutors alleged that she provided funding for the operation and travelled abroad to meet alleged leaders of the network to help coordinate activities.

She has consistently denied the charges, telling investigators and the court that she had never smoked a cigarette in her life, and declaring her innocence.

Reports from the courtroom described her weeping during the sentencing and pleading for mercy and humanity, stating that her parents had raised her well and that she did not need drug money.

Court and prosecution details cited by Al-Ahram and other state-linked outlets say authorities seized more than 750 kilograms of synthetic narcotics and raw materials during investigations.

Two apartments in Cairo were allegedly used as laboratories for manufacturing the drugs.

Unlicensed firearms and ammunition were also recovered.

Twenty witnesses provided statements, supplemented by electronic evidence including conversations, photographs and video clips.

The gang was described as operating with a division of roles, with some members importing raw materials from abroad, others handling manufacturing and others managed distribution.

Of the 28 defendants who originally stood trial, 12 received death sentences and fines of 500,000 Egyptian pounds each, nine were sentenced to life imprisonment and seven were acquitted.

Two defendants are reported to be still at large and have been placed on travel bans and watch lists.

Khalifa was arrested in Cairo in April 2025 in connection with the investigation.

In separate proceedings heard by the same court, reports say Khalifa was also convicted and received an additional prison terms related to the kidnapping and assault of a young man, and in another matter involving the filming and assault of her driver.

Egypt applies the death penalty for drug trafficking, among other serious offences including premeditated murder and certain terrorism-related crimes.

The case has drawn attention both for the high-profile nature of one of the defendants and for Egypt’s continued use of capital punishment in narcotics cases.