Egypt sentences TV presenter and 11 others to death in major drug case

Television presenter Sarah Khalifa and 11 other defendants have been sentenced to death in Egypt in a sprawling narcotics case involving alleged drug manufacturing, trafficking and illegal weapons possession.

A Cairo court sentenced the defendants to death by hanging after consulting the Grand Mufti, whose religious opinion is required in Egyptian capital cases. The verdict remains subject to appeal.

State-linked Al-Ahram reported that the court found the defendants had formed an organised criminal gang to obtain materials for manufacturing narcotics, with the intention of trafficking them. State-run Akhbar Al-Youm said the charges involved importing materials from abroad to manufacture synthetic drugs.

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Khalifa and 11 other defendants to death by hanging on charges of 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

Authorities seized more than 750 kilograms of narcotics and raw materials, according to Al-Ahram. They also found two apartments allegedly used as laboratories, as well as unlicensed firearms and ammunition.

Khalifa, 39, is known for presenting “Mission Impossible”, a programme focused on security and crime. She also owns a plastic surgery clinic and a company that organises parties and events. The court separately sentenced her and others to five years in prison over the kidnapping and assault of a young man. Egypt uses the death penalty for drug trafficking and several other offences. The Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms said 541 death sentences were issued in 2025.

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manufacturing synthetic drugs with the intent to traffic them, by importing the materials used in manufacturing from abroad