Egyptian television presenter Sarah Khalifa has been sentenced to death by hanging alongside 11 other defendants following their conviction in a major drug trafficking case.
The Cairo Criminal Court handed down the sentences on Saturday, September 5, 2026, after finding the defendants guilty of forming an organised criminal group involved in obtaining materials used to manufacture synthetic drugs for trafficking. They were also convicted of possessing and carrying firearms and ammunition without licences.
Khalifa, 39, is a well-known Egyptian television presenter best known for hosting “Mission Impossible,” a programme focused on crime and security. She also operates a cosmetic surgery clinic and an events business and has a significant following on social media. She was arrested in April 2025 as part of the investigation into the drug network.
According to Egyptian authorities, investigators uncovered two apartments allegedly being used as laboratories to store and manufacture synthetic narcotics. More than 750 kilograms of narcotics and raw materials were reportedly seized during the investigation, alongside firearms and ammunition.
Prosecutors accused members of the group of importing chemical materials from abroad before using them to manufacture synthetic drugs for distribution. The prosecution also alleged that Khalifa helped finance and coordinate parts of the operation.
The case involved 28 defendants in total. While Khalifa and 11 others received death sentences, another nine defendants were sentenced to life imprisonment, while seven were acquitted. Two other suspects reportedly remain at large and have been placed on travel bans and watch lists.
Before issuing the death sentences, the court obtained the opinion of Egypt’s Grand Mufti, a required procedural step in capital cases. The Mufti’s opinion is consultative rather than binding, and the verdict remains subject to appeal. The death sentence therefore does not mean Khalifa will be executed immediately.
The case has attracted significant attention in Egypt because of Khalifa’s profile as a television personality and the scale of the alleged drug operation.
Discover more from Scoop Hub
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
