Glamorous Egyptian TV host Sarah Khalifa given death penalty over her role in sprawling drug ring

A glamorous TV presenter who once fronted a crime show has been sentenced to death by hanging over her role in a sprawling drug trafficking operation.

Egyptian Sarah Khalifa was among 12 people handed the death penalty by a Cairo court after being convicted of forming an organised criminal gang involved in importing materials used to manufacture synthetic drugs.

The court was told that the group imported raw materials from overseas before manufacturing and distributing the drugs, with residential properties allegedly used to store the materials and operate laboratories.

More than 750kg of narcotics and raw materials were seized during the investigation, along with unlicensed firearms and ammunition.

Khalifa, who was arrested in April 2025, has vigorously denied the charges.

The 39-year-old told investigators that she had “never smoked a cigarette in my life” and pleaded with the court to listen to her as she broke down during the sentencing.

“Please listen to me, sir. My parents raised me well; they are people who pray and I don’t need drug money,” she said.

Khalifa has been a familiar face on Egyptian TV, beginning her media career as a teenager before working for Egyptian and Iraqi broadcasters.

She later hosted the security and crime program Mission Impossible, which aired on private Egyptian channel Al-Mehwar and involved interviews with police officers, security officials and suspects.

She subsequently moved into business, opening a beauty clinic and establishing an event production company specialising in parties and entertainment.

She also built a huge social media following, with about 2.5 million followers on Instagram.

Khalifa’s dramatic fall came in April 2025 when she was arrested as investigators began probing the alleged drug operation.

Prosecutors relied on witness testimony as well as digital evidence including messages, photographs and videos, according to Egyptian reports.

The case involved 28 defendants, with nine others sentenced to life in prison and seven acquitted.

The death sentences were issued after the court consulted Egypt’s Grand Mufti, whose opinion is required in capital cases but is not binding on the court.

Khalifa and the other defendants can appeal the verdict, meaning the death sentences are not yet final.

The court also handed Khalifa a separate three-year prison sentence over an unrelated case involving the assault and filming of her driver.