Crime-show presenter among 12 defendants handed death sentences after Cairo court convicts them in major narcotics case
CAIRO, Egypt — Egyptian television presenter and producer Sarah Khalifa, 39, has been sentenced to death by hanging alongside 11 other defendants following their conviction in a major drug trafficking and manufacturing case.
The verdict was delivered by a Cairo Criminal Court on Saturday, September 5, 2026, in a case that has attracted widespread attention across Egypt because of Khalifa’s public profile and the scale of the alleged criminal operation.
Khalifa is best known for presenting the television programme “Mission Impossible,” which focused on security and crime-related issues. She has denied the allegations against her and her lawyer has indicated that the death sentence will be challenged on appeal.
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750kg of Narcotics Seized
According to Egyptian state media and reports from the court proceedings, the defendants were convicted of forming an organised criminal network involved in importing materials used to manufacture synthetic narcotics, producing the drugs and distributing them for sale.
Authorities said they seized more than 750 kilograms of narcotics and raw materials used in their manufacture during the investigation. Equipment allegedly connected to the production of the drugs was also recovered.
The case also involved allegations that members of the group possessed firearms and ammunition without the required licences.
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Investigators alleged that the organisation had divided responsibilities among its members, with some defendants involved in obtaining raw materials from abroad, while others allegedly handled production, storage and distribution.
Khalifa Denies Involvement
Throughout the proceedings, Khalifa has denied playing the role attributed to her by prosecutors.
During an earlier court appearance, she reportedly rejected allegations that she had been involved with narcotics, saying she had never seen drugs before the case and claiming that the only time she saw them was when she was photographed with seized substances inside the anti-narcotics authority’s offices.
Prosecutors, however, presented witness testimony and electronic evidence as part of the case against the defendants.
According to reports, 20 witnesses gave statements to prosecutors, while electronic evidence reportedly included conversations and video recordings.
Other Defendants Sentenced
The case involved 28 defendants in total.
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While Khalifa and 11 others received death sentences, nine defendants were sentenced to life imprisonment, while seven others were acquitted.
The court’s final death sentences followed the submission of the defendants’ cases to Egypt’s Grand Mufti for a religious opinion, a required procedural step in Egyptian capital cases. The Mufti’s opinion is advisory rather than binding on the court.
The death sentences remain subject to the legal appeals process.
From Crime Television to Death Row
The case has generated particular public interest because of Khalifa’s previous television career.
Her programme Mission Impossible dealt with crime and security issues, making her prosecution in a major narcotics case especially striking.
Egyptian media have widely referred to the proceedings as the country’s “Major Drug Case”, reflecting the scale of the alleged operation and the number of defendants involved.
The case has also renewed attention on Egypt’s use of capital punishment for serious drug offences.
According to Amnesty International’s latest reporting cited in the case, Egypt continues to hand down significant numbers of death sentences, prompting concerns from international human-rights organisations over the use of the death penalty and fair-trial standards.
For now, however, Khalifa’s legal battle is not over. Her defence is expected to pursue an appeal against the conviction and death sentence.
