Sarah Khalifad
Susan Abayomi
An Egyptian court has sentenced television presenter and producer Sarah Khalifa and 11 other defendants to death in a major drug trafficking and manufacturing case that has attracted widespread attention in the country.
The Cairo Criminal Court, sitting in the Fifth Settlement area, handed down the verdict on Saturday, September 5, 2026, after finding the defendants guilty of offences connected to an organised criminal network involved in bringing in raw materials, manufacturing and trafficking synthetic drugs.
The case, which became widely known as the “Major Drug Case” in Egyptian media, dates back to investigations that led authorities to Khalifa and other suspects. Prosecutors alleged that the group operated an organised network with different members assigned roles involving the procurement of materials, production, storage and distribution.
Authorities reportedly seized more than 750 kilogrammes of synthetic drugs and related materials during the investigation. The case also included allegations involving the possession of firearms and ammunition without the required licences.
Khalifa, 39, is known for her television work, including the crime-focused programme “Mission Impossible.” She has also built a significant public profile through her media activities and social media presence.
The court’s decision followed the required consultation with Egypt’s Grand Mufti, a procedure that precedes the issuance of death sentences in such cases.
In addition to Khalifa and the 11 other defendants sentenced to death, the court handed life imprisonment to nine others involved in the case. Seven defendants were acquitted, while two other suspects reportedly remain at large.
Khalifa has denied the allegations against her. Her legal team has indicated that the verdict will be challenged through the available appeal process.
The case has generated considerable public interest because of Khalifa’s previous career in television and her prominence in Egyptian entertainment circles.
The death sentences are not necessarily the final stage of the legal process, as the defendants have the right to challenge the verdict through Egypt’s judicial system.
The development has therefore placed Khalifa’s high-profile media career at the centre of one of Egypt’s most closely watched criminal cases in recent years.
