Egyptian TV presenter sentenced to death in 750kg drug trafficking case

Egyptian television presenter, Sarah Khalifa, has been sentenced to death by hanging after a Cairo court convicted her and 11 others in a drug trafficking case involving more than 750 kilogrammes of narcotics.

According to security analyst, Zagazola Makama, the Cairo Criminal Court found the defendants guilty of forming an organised criminal gang involved in procuring raw materials for the production and trafficking of synthetic drugs.

The case involved 28 defendants. Nine other defendants were sentenced to life imprisonment, while seven were acquitted, according to the report.

Khalifa, 39, is known for hosting the security and crime programme, Mission Impossible on Al-Mehwar TV.

She also ran businesses, including a cosmetic surgery clinic and an events company, and had more than two million followers on Instagram.

“Throughout the investigation, Khalifa denied the allegations, telling prosecutors she had never smoked a cigarette and insisting she was innocent,” the report stated.

Egyptian media also reported that Khalifa broke down in tears during the court session and pleaded for mercy, saying her parents raised her well and that she had no need for drug money.

Prosecutors alleged that the group imported materials from abroad for the production of synthetic drugs, stored them in residential properties and later manufactured and distributed the narcotics.

Investigators also recovered unlicensed firearms and ammunition alongside the drugs, according to the report.