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TV presenter, 39, sentenced to death over major drug trafficking operation

TV personality Sarah Khalifa has been sentenced to death by hanging (Picture: Jam Press)

Egyptian TV presenter Sarah Khalifa is one of 12 defendants sentenced to death over illegal drug manufacturing and trafficking crimes.

The 39-year-old is best known for her show Mission Impossible, which explores crime and security issues.

She also owns an events company and a cosmetic surgery clinic, plus she has 2.5million Instagram followers.

As per the Al-Ahram newspaper, a Cairo court sentenced Khalifa and 11 others to execution by hanging, although this can still be appealed.

They are charged with ‘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’.

The defendants have been charged with importing materials from abroad to ‘manufacture synthetic drugs’, according to the state-run Akhbar el-Yom newspaper.

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Story from Jam Press (Presenter Death Penalty) Pictured: Sarah Khalifa. TV star faces death penalty after alleged drug factory bust A TV presenter and 12 other defendants are facing the death penalty in a major drug trafficking case. Sarah Khalifa was among 13 of 28 defendants whose papers were referred to Egypt's Grand Mufti by the Cairo Criminal Court on Tuesday (4 August), a mandatory step before the court can impose death sentences. The TV presenter and lifestyle influencer, who has almost 3m followers on social media, was arrested on suspicion of drug offences in an upmarket district of Cairo in April 2025. The 32-year-old and her co-defendants, including her brother, also had their assets frozen, while fugitive suspects in the case were placed on travel ban and arrival watch lists. According to prosecutors, the defendants formed a criminal organisation that manufactured and trafficked synthetic drugs. They allegedly imported precursor chemicals from abroad by declaring them as dietary supplements before storing them at a residential property, where the drugs were manufactured. Investigators said they seized more than 750kg (1,653lb) of narcotics and precursor chemicals, with an estimated street value of 1.2b EGP (?18m). Authorities also recovered drug-manufacturing equipment, cash and gold bars, as reported by NeedToKnow. Khalifa is also standing trial in a separate case in which she is accused of unlawfully detaining and sexually assaulting her personal driver at her flat in New Cairo in 2021. She denies the allegations and has denied owning the property where the alleged assault took place. Prosecutors say investigators recovered video evidence of the alleged events from Khalifa's mobile phone following her arrest. Khalifa worked for several years with the ART television network, presenting the programme From Cairo, before later becoming a presenter on Iraq's Al Sharqiya TV. After leaving broadcasting, she launched several businesses. In 2021, she founded Sarah Production, an events and entertainment company. She also opened a cosmetic clinic in Giza in 2019, which reportedly became popular with celebrities and wealthy clients. Khalifa previously attracted widespread attention after marrying Egyptian footballer Mahmoud Kahraba. The couple separated after a short time. She also appeared as an actress in the sitcom Al Takya. The Grand Mufti will now issue a non-binding advisory opinion before the court delivers its final verdict on 5 September. If death sentences are imposed, they will be automatically reviewed by Egypt's highest court, the Court of Cassation, and the defendants will also have the right to appeal. ENDS EDITOR'S NOTE: Fair Dealing / Fair Use: In limited cases, Jam Press may distribute material under fair dealing/fair use principles for legitimate editorial reporting purposes. Jam Press accepts responsibility for licensed editorial publisher usage only. Any additional client usage, including use across owned social media channels, commercial marketing or non-editorial purposes, remains the responsibility of the client.
The 39-year-old was one of 28 defendants in a ‘major’ drugs case (Picture: Jam Press)

Police are believed to have seized more than 750kg of narcotics and raw materials, plus equipment, after finding two apartments were being used as labs. They also discovered unlicensed guns and ammunition.

Khalifa specifically was accused of supplying funds for the operation and travelling abroad to meet two of the gang leaders.

The scheme is said to have involved a detailed network, with members recruited at different stages. Some were responsible for obtaining materials while others handled assembly and distribution.

Egyptian media have described the matter as a ‘major drugs case’, which also saw nine defendants sentenced to life in jail and seven others acquitted. There were 28 defendants in total.

Story from Jam Press (Presenter Death Penalty) Pictured: Sarah Khalifa. TV star faces death penalty after alleged drug factory bust A TV presenter and 12 other defendants are facing the death penalty in a major drug trafficking case. Sarah Khalifa was among 13 of 28 defendants whose papers were referred to Egypt's Grand Mufti by the Cairo Criminal Court on Tuesday (4 August), a mandatory step before the court can impose death sentences. The TV presenter and lifestyle influencer, who has almost 3m followers on social media, was arrested on suspicion of drug offences in an upmarket district of Cairo in April 2025. The 32-year-old and her co-defendants, including her brother, also had their assets frozen, while fugitive suspects in the case were placed on travel ban and arrival watch lists. According to prosecutors, the defendants formed a criminal organisation that manufactured and trafficked synthetic drugs. They allegedly imported precursor chemicals from abroad by declaring them as dietary supplements before storing them at a residential property, where the drugs were manufactured. Investigators said they seized more than 750kg (1,653lb) of narcotics and precursor chemicals, with an estimated street value of 1.2b EGP (?18m). Authorities also recovered drug-manufacturing equipment, cash and gold bars, as reported by NeedToKnow. Khalifa is also standing trial in a separate case in which she is accused of unlawfully detaining and sexually assaulting her personal driver at her flat in New Cairo in 2021. She denies the allegations and has denied owning the property where the alleged assault took place. Prosecutors say investigators recovered video evidence of the alleged events from Khalifa's mobile phone following her arrest. Khalifa worked for several years with the ART television network, presenting the programme From Cairo, before later becoming a presenter on Iraq's Al Sharqiya TV. After leaving broadcasting, she launched several businesses. In 2021, she founded Sarah Production, an events and entertainment company. She also opened a cosmetic clinic in Giza in 2019, which reportedly became popular with celebrities and wealthy clients. Khalifa previously attracted widespread attention after marrying Egyptian footballer Mahmoud Kahraba. The couple separated after a short time. She also appeared as an actress in the sitcom Al Takya. The Grand Mufti will now issue a non-binding advisory opinion before the court delivers its final verdict on 5 September. If death sentences are imposed, they will be automatically reviewed by Egypt's highest court, the Court of Cassation, and the defendants will also have the right to appeal. ENDS EDITOR'S NOTE: Fair Dealing / Fair Use: In limited cases, Jam Press may distribute material under fair dealing/fair use principles for legitimate editorial reporting purposes. Jam Press accepts responsibility for licensed editorial publisher usage only. Any additional client usage, including use across owned social media channels, commercial marketing or non-editorial purposes, remains the responsibility of the client.
Khalifa was accused of supplying funds for the trafficking operation (Picture: Jam Press)

As well as the drug offences, Khalifa has been separately charged with the abduction and assault of a young man. She and others were handed a five-year prison term.

Under Egyptian law, capital punishment is a legal penalty, and it is applied to more than 100 offences, such as terrorism-related crimes, military offences, premeditated and aggravated murder, and large-scale drug trafficking.

In capital cases, Egyptian law requires the Grand Mufti of Egypt to be consulted for a non-binding religious opinion, after which a verdict is delivered.

Figures state that, in 2025, Egypt handed down 492 death sentences, marking a 35% increase from 365 in 2024. Human rights monitors documented at least 23 executions last year.

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