An Egyptian criminal court has sentenced television presenter Sarah Khalifa and 11 other defendants to death after finding them guilty in a major narcotics case involving an alleged organised drug-trafficking network.
The Cairo court convicted the 12 defendants of participating in a criminal group accused of obtaining materials for the production of narcotics with the intention of manufacturing and distributing illegal drugs, according to reports by Egyptian state-linked media.
The case involves 28 defendants and investigations in which authorities reportedly recovered more than 750 kilograms of narcotics. Nine additional defendants were handed life sentences, while seven others were acquitted.
Khalifa, 39, became known to Egyptian audiences through her work as a television presenter, including hosting the security and crime programme Mission Impossible on Al-Mehwar TV. She has also been involved in business ventures and has built a substantial following on social media.
Throughout the proceedings, Khalifa denied involvement in the alleged drug operation and maintained that she was innocent. During the court session, she reportedly became emotional while appealing to the court to consider her circumstances.
Prosecutors alleged that the network obtained raw materials from outside Egypt and used residential properties to store and process them into synthetic narcotics. Investigators said the operation involved different individuals handling the acquisition of materials, production and distribution.
Authorities also reportedly recovered unlicensed firearms and ammunition during the investigation.
The death sentences remain subject to Egypt’s legal review and appeal procedures.
