Get you up to speed: TV presenter, 39, sentenced to death over major drug trafficking operation | News World
Egyptian TV presenter Sarah Khalifa and 11 co-defendants have been sentenced to death by hanging by a Cairo court for illegal drug manufacturing and trafficking. The court’s decision follows charges of forming a criminal gang and was made after the seizure of over 750kg of narcotics and drug-manufacturing equipment.
Egypt’s Grand Mufti is set to issue a non-binding advisory opinion regarding the death sentences on 5 September, following the mandatory consultation required by law in capital cases. Authorities reported that over 750kg of narcotics and precursor chemicals were seized during the investigation, which involved multiple defendants operating an organised criminal gang.
A Cairo court has sentenced Egyptian TV presenter Sarah Khalifa and 11 others to death by hanging for their involvement in a drug trafficking operation, with the case now pending a non-binding opinion from Egypt’s Grand Mufti. If the death sentences are confirmed on 5 September, they will undergo automatic review by the Court of Cassation, and the defendants will retain the right to appeal.
What remains unclear — It is uncertain how the final verdict from the court will be affected by the Grand Mufti’s advisory opinion.
Egyptian TV presenter Sarah Khalifa sentenced to death for drug trafficking
TV personality Sarah Khalifa has been sentenced to death by hanging (Picture: Jam Press)
Egyptian TV presenter Sarah Khalifa is one of 12 defendants sentenced to death over illegal drug manufacturing and trafficking crimes.
The 39-year-old is best known for her show Mission Impossible, which explores crime and security issues.
She also owns an events company and a cosmetic surgery clinic, plus she has 2.5million Instagram followers.
As per the Al-Ahram newspaper, a Cairo court sentenced Khalifa and 11 others to execution by hanging, although this can still be appealed.
They are charged with ‘forming an organised criminal gang specialising in procuring materials used in manufacturing narcotics, with the intent to traffic them, and possessing and carrying unlicensed firearms and ammunition’.
The defendants have been charged with importing materials from abroad to ‘manufacture synthetic drugs’, according to the state-run Akhbar el-Yom newspaper.
Sign up for all of the latest stories
The 39-year-old was one of 28 defendants in a ‘major’ drugs case (Picture: Jam Press)
Police are believed to have seized more than 750kg of narcotics and raw materials, plus equipment, after finding two apartments were being used as labs. They also discovered unlicensed guns and ammunition.
Khalifa specifically was accused of supplying funds for the operation and travelling abroad to meet two of the gang leaders.
The scheme is said to have involved a detailed network, with members recruited at different stages. Some were responsible for obtaining materials while others handled assembly and distribution.
Egyptian media have described the matter as a ‘major drugs case’, which also saw nine defendants sentenced to life in jail and seven others acquitted. There were 28 defendants in total.
Khalifa was accused of supplying funds for the trafficking operation (Picture: Jam Press)
As well as the drug offences, Khalifa has been separately charged with the abduction and assault of a young man. She and others were handed a five-year prison term.
Under Egyptian law, capital punishment is a legal penalty, and it is applied to more than 100 offences, such as terrorism-related crimes, military offences, premeditated and aggravated murder, and large-scale drug trafficking.
In capital cases, Egyptian law requires the Grand Mufti of Egypt to be consulted for a non-binding religious opinion, after which a verdict is delivered.
Figures state that, in 2025, Egypt handed down 492 death sentences, marking a 35% increase from 365 in 2024. Human rights monitors documented at least 23 executions last year.
Comment now
Comments
Add WTX as a Preferred Source on Google
Breaking News
Never miss the biggest stories with breaking news alerts in your inbox.
Great article! This really puts things into perspective. I appreciate the thorough research and balanced viewpoint.
Interesting read, though I think there are some points that could have been explored further. Would love to see a follow-up on this topic.
Thanks for sharing this! I had no idea about some of these details. Definitely bookmarking this for future reference.
Well written and informative. The examples provided really help illustrate the main points effectively.
This is exactly what I was looking for! Clear, concise, and very helpful. Keep up the excellent work!