Egyptian Court Sentences TV Presenter Sarah Khalifa and 11 Others to Death in Major Drug Trafficking Case

CAIRO — An Egyptian criminal court has sentenced television presenter and media producer Sarah Khalifa and 11 other defendants to death by hanging after convicting them in a major narcotics manufacturing and trafficking case that authorities say involved an organized criminal network and clandestine drug-production laboratories in Cairo.

The Cairo Criminal Court issued the verdict on Saturday, September 5, in one of Egypt’s most closely watched criminal cases of recent months. The court also sentenced nine other defendants to life imprisonment and acquitted seven, bringing the total number of defendants in the case to 28.

The defendants sentenced to death were convicted of forming an organized criminal group involved in importing materials used to manufacture synthetic drugs, producing narcotics for the purpose of trafficking and possessing firearms and ammunition without the required licences, according to Egyptian media reports.

More than 750 kilograms of drugs and raw materials seized

The case gained particular attention because of the scale of the alleged operation.

Investigators said authorities seized more than 750 kilograms of narcotics and materials used in their manufacture. Authorities also reportedly discovered two apartments in Cairo that had allegedly been converted into clandestine laboratories for processing or manufacturing synthetic drugs.

Prosecutors alleged that members of the network had different roles, including obtaining and importing chemical materials, manufacturing the drugs and arranging their distribution. The prosecution also alleged that the organization possessed unlicensed firearms and ammunition.

The scale of the seizure became one of the central features of the prosecution’s case, with Egyptian reports describing it as the country’s high-profile “major drugs” case.

Who is Sarah Khalifa?

Khalifa, 39, is a well-known Egyptian media personality who became known to television audiences through her work as a presenter. She was particularly associated with “Mission Impossible,” a programme dealing with security and crime-related issues.

Her involvement in a case of this magnitude has attracted considerable public attention because of her previous career in the media.

Prosecutors accused her of playing a role in the alleged organization. Reports on the prosecution case said she was accused of helping finance or coordinate aspects of the operation and of travelling abroad to meet alleged leaders of the network.

Khalifa, however, denied the accusations and maintained her innocence. Her defence has challenged the allegations against her, and the death sentence is not necessarily the final outcome of the case because the defendants have avenues for appeal.

Grand Mufti’s opinion preceded the verdict

The death sentences followed a procedure required in Egyptian capital cases in which the court refers the matter to the country’s Grand Mufti for a religious opinion before issuing a final death sentence.

Egyptian media reported that the court received the Grand Mufti’s opinion before announcing the unanimous death sentences against Khalifa and the other defendants.

The Mufti’s opinion is part of the judicial process, but the final decision remains with the court.

28 defendants, different sentences

The court’s ruling produced different outcomes for the 28 defendants.

Twelve defendants, including Khalifa, were sentenced to death. Nine others received life imprisonment, while seven were acquitted. The court also imposed fines on those convicted in the main narcotics case, according to Egyptian court reports.

The differing verdicts indicate that the court assessed the allegations and evidence against the defendants individually rather than imposing a single punishment on everyone charged in the case.

A separate case involving Khalifa

Khalifa has also faced proceedings in a separate case involving allegations of kidnapping and assault against a young man.

Reports published around the verdict said Khalifa and other defendants received an additional five-year prison sentence in that separate matter. That case is distinct from the major narcotics prosecution that resulted in the death sentences.

What happens next?

Despite the severity of Saturday’s ruling, the death sentences do not mean that executions will immediately take place.

The defendants have the right to pursue legal challenges and appeals under Egypt’s judicial system. International reports have also emphasized that the verdict remains subject to further legal procedures.

The case is therefore likely to remain in the Egyptian courts as the defence teams challenge the convictions and sentences.

Death penalty debate

The verdict is also likely to reignite debate over Egypt’s use of capital punishment for serious crimes, including large-scale drug trafficking.

Supporters of harsh penalties argue that organized drug-production and trafficking networks can cause widespread social harm and that severe punishment is necessary to deter major criminal organizations. Critics of the death penalty, however, argue that capital punishment is irreversible and that legal systems should rely on imprisonment rather than execution, particularly where convictions can later be challenged.

For now, the Egyptian court’s decision marks a major development in a case that has combined celebrity, organized crime and one of the country’s largest recent narcotics investigations.

The case remains subject to further legal proceedings, meaning Saturday’s verdict may not be the final chapter for Sarah Khalifa and the other defendants.

Key facts at a glance

Defendant: Sarah Khalifa, 39, Egyptian TV presenter and media producer
Death sentences: 12 defendants in total
Other sentences: 9 defendants received life imprisonment
Acquitted: 7 defendants
Total defendants: 28
Drugs and materials seized: More than 750 kilograms
Alleged operation: Synthetic-drug manufacturing and trafficking
Location: Cairo, Egypt
Weapons allegations: Unlicensed firearms and ammunition
Current status: Death sentences remain subject to further legal procedures and appeal

This report is based on the latest court reports and international coverage available on September 6, 2026. Allegations made by prosecutors are presented as allegations unless established by the court’s judgment.