Cairo court issues death sentence for Sarah Khalifa and 12 defendants in ‘Grand Drug Case’

A Cairo court has handed down a death sentence to TV host Sarah Khalifa and 12 co-defendants in a significant drug trafficking case. The Cairo Criminal Court referred the case to the Grand Mufti of Egypt, with the final verdict set for September 5th. While the Mufti's opinion is advisory, the referral is a necessary step before any death sentence can be issued.

Khalifa and 27 other defendants were on trial for their alleged involvement in a "Grand Drug Case." Investigations revealed the formation of a criminal organization focused on manufacturing and trafficking synthetic drugs. The group reportedly imported raw materials from overseas and divided responsibilities for importation, manufacturing, and distribution. A residential property was allegedly used as a base for these operations.

The seized narcotics and raw materials exceeded 750 kilograms. Following the investigation, prosecutors took urgent measures, including inventorying defendants' assets, disclosing bank account confidentiality, freezing funds, and placing fugitive defendants on travel ban and arrival watch lists. The prosecution's referral was supported by testimonies from 20 witnesses and other compiled evidence.