A popular Egyptian TV presenter broke down in tears in court after she was sentenced to death by hanging for her alleged role in a major drug trafficking operation.
Sarah Khalifa, 39, a former host of the Egyptian crime show Mission Impossible, was handed the death sentence in Cairo after being convicted alongside several others in the case, per Al-Jazeera.
Khalifa reportedly pleaded with the court and strongly denied being involved in the drug operation. She insisted that she did not need money from drugs and pointed to her upbringing while maintaining her innocence.
Khalifa and 11 other defendants were sentenced to death after prosecutors accused them of being part of an organized criminal group that imported raw materials used to manufacture synthetic drugs.
The investigation led to charges against 28 people. Nine defendants received life sentences, while seven others were acquitted.
Authorities said more than 1,600 pounds of narcotics were seized during the investigation. Police also reportedly recovered unlicensed firearms and ammunition.
Who Is Sarah Khalifa?
Sarah Khalifa is an Egyptian television presenter and businesswoman who became known to viewers through her work in entertainment and television.
The 39-year-old previously hosted the Egyptian crime program Mission Impossible and built a large following online. She has more than 2 million followers across social media.
Outside television, Khalifa was also involved in several businesses. According to the New York Post, she operated a cosmetic surgery clinic as well as an event-planning company.
Her public profile made her arrest and trial particularly notable in Egypt.
Khalifa Denies the Allegations
Khalifa and other suspects were arrested in 2025 after authorities accused the group of importing materials used to manufacture synthetic drugs.
Investigators alleged that members of the operation produced and stored drugs inside residential homes.
Khalifa has strongly denied the accusations against her. During the investigation, she reportedly said she had never even smoked a cigarette.
Before issuing the death sentences, the court consulted Egypt’s grand mufti for a religious opinion, a step required under Egyptian law in capital punishment cases.
Despite the dramatic ruling, Khalifa’s legal case may not be over. The death sentence can be appealed under Egypt’s judicial process.
According to CNN, prosecutors said their case was supported by testimony from 20 witnesses, along with recorded conversations, photographs and video footage.
The death sentence comes as Egypt continues to make heavy use of capital punishment. Amnesty International recorded 492 death sentences in the country in 2025, up from 365 the previous year. Egypt also carried out 23 executions during the year.
Separate Five-Year Prison Sentence
Khalifa is also facing punishment in a separate criminal case. According to the International Business Times UK, she was sentenced to five years in prison for the kidnapping and assault of a young man.
That case is separate from the drug trafficking case that resulted in her death sentence.
The two convictions mark a dramatic change for Khalifa, who was once known as a television presenter and businesswoman. However, her legal battle is not necessarily over. The death sentence can still be appealed, meaning the Cairo court’s decision may not be the final ruling in the case.
