Egyptian TV Host Sarah Khalifa Sentenced to Death in Major Drug Trafficking Case

Egyptian television presenter Sarah Khalifa broke down in court after receiving a death sentence in a major drug trafficking case that involved 28 defendants.

The 39-year-old former host of the crime-focused program Mission Impossible was sentenced to death by hanging by a Cairo criminal court on September 5, alongside 11 other defendants. The ruling followed the court’s receipt of the opinion of Egypt’s Grand Mufti, a required step before a death sentence can be issued in the country. The Mufti’s opinion is advisory rather than binding.

Khalifa has consistently denied the allegations against her. Before the verdict, she pleaded with officials and insisted that she had been raised by religious parents and had no reason to become involved with drug money.

She also reportedly told investigators that she had “never smoked a cigarette” in her life.

A case involving 28 defendants

The case, widely known in Egypt as the “Grand Drug Case,” centers on allegations that the defendants formed an organized criminal group involved in obtaining materials used to manufacture synthetic narcotics, with the intention of producing and trafficking them.

According to investigators, the group imported raw materials from abroad and divided responsibilities among its members, including the importation, manufacture and distribution of drugs. Residential properties were allegedly used to store materials and manufacture the substances.

Authorities seized more than 750 kilograms of narcotics and related materials during the investigation. Investigators also reported finding unlicensed firearms and ammunition.

The prosecution’s case included testimony from 20 witnesses as well as digital and technical evidence, including messages, photographs and video footage that investigators said documented aspects of the alleged activities.

Khalifa was arrested in Cairo in April 2025 and became one of the most recognizable figures among those charged.

From television personality to defendant

Before the case, Khalifa was known publicly for her work in television, particularly Mission Impossible, a program focused on crime and security issues.

She also had business interests outside broadcasting, including a cosmetic surgery clinic and an event production company. She had built a significant following on social media as well.

Her public image contrasted sharply with the allegations at the center of the case, which she has rejected.

What the court decided

The Cairo Criminal Court sentenced Khalifa and 11 other defendants to death by hanging.

Nine additional defendants were sentenced to life imprisonment, while seven others were acquitted, bringing the total number of defendants in the case to 28.

The death sentences are not yet final. Khalifa’s defense has said it intends to appeal and pursue the available stages of legal review.

The court also issued separate rulings in another case involving Khalifa. According to Egyptian media, she received a three-year sentence for an offense involving the filming and assault of her driver, while other defendants in that case received different prison terms.

For now, the death sentence remains subject to appeal, meaning the September 5 ruling does not yet represent a final, enforceable judgment.