A TV presenter sentenced to prison, accused of being part of a criminal drug-trafficking group

Egyptian television presenter Sarah Khalifa and 11 other people have been sentenced to death by hanging after being found guilty of involvement in a drug trafficking case.

According to the state-run newspaper Al-Ahram, the defendants were members of a criminal group that imported raw materials used to manufacture drugs, with the aim of selling them. Authorities seized more than 750 kilograms of narcotics and imported materials used in their production. During the investigation, illegal weapons and ammunition were also discovered.

Sarah Khalifa, 39, was best known for the television program “Mission Impossible,” which focused on criminal cases. She has denied the allegations against her.

In the same case, nine other defendants were sentenced to life imprisonment, while seven people were acquitted.

Sarah Khalifa’s lawyer said he would appeal the death sentence.

The decision was initially issued last month, but it was confirmed only a month later after the court received the religious opinion of Egypt’s Grand Mufti, a mandatory procedure in cases where a court imposes a death sentence.

During the trial, the prosecution presented testimony from 20 people, as well as electronic evidence, including messages and videos. According to Akhbar al-Youm, during a court hearing in September last year, when asked about her alleged role, Khalifa said that she had never seen drugs until the moment she was photographed with them at the premises of the anti-narcotics authority.

According to an Amnesty International report for 2025, 492 death sentences were handed down in Egypt that year, while 23 people were executed. The report stresses that under international law, the death penalty should be limited only to crimes involving intentional killing.

“KORÇA BOOM”