A Cairo criminal court has sentenced television presenter Sarah Khalifa and 11 co-defendants to death by hanging for their roles in a major drug manufacturing and trafficking operation, according to court officials and local media reports. The verdict, delivered on September 5, caps a high-profile case that has drawn widespread attention due to the defendant's public profile as a host of a popular crime-focused television program.
The court found Khalifa and the other defendants guilty of forming an organised criminal network that imported chemical precursors from abroad for the production of synthetic drugs. Prosecutors presented evidence that the group operated clandestine laboratories in residential apartments, with law enforcement seizing over 750 kilograms of synthetic narcotics and raw materials during the investigation. Authorities also recovered unlicensed firearms and ammunition from premises linked to the network .
Under Egyptian legal procedure, the death sentence was referred to the Grand Mufti, the country's highest religious authority, for a non-binding advisory opinion before the court could formally pronounce the ruling, a mandatory step in all capital cases . In addition to the 12 individuals sentenced to death, nine other defendants received life imprisonment, while seven were acquitted due to insufficient evidence .
The 39-year-old presenter, known for her work on the investigative show Mission Impossible, has maintained her innocence throughout the judicial process, telling the court she had never encountered illicit drugs before her arrest . Her legal team has confirmed they will file an appeal against the verdict, a right afforded to all defendants under the Egyptian judicial system. The case will now proceed to a higher court for review .
The conviction adds to Khalifa's existing legal troubles. In a separate proceeding, she and other defendants were sentenced to five years in prison for their involvement in the kidnapping and assault of a young man . The concurrent trial addressed charges of illegal detention and physical assault.
Khalifa, who also operates a cosmetic surgery clinic and an events management company in Cairo, has a significant social media following of nearly 3 million . The case has underscored the severity with which Egyptian courts treat narcotics offences. Capital punishment in Egypt applies to a range of serious crimes, including premeditated murder, terrorism, and large-scale drug trafficking, with hundreds of death sentences issued annually . The verdict remains subject to appeal and further judicial review.
Abuja Network News
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