Egyptian TV host sentenced to death for drug trafficking

A court in Egypt sentenced a television host to death for drug trafficking.

Consensus

Sara Khalifa, a 39-year-old Egyptian television presenter, was sentenced to death by hanging.
The death sentence was handed down by a Cairo criminal court on September 5, 2025.
The verdict was related to a case involving the production and distribution of synthetic drugs.
More than 750 kilograms of synthetic drugs and precursor chemicals were seized during raids.
The crime ring operated through two apartments in Cairo, which were used as laboratories.
The group was involved in the full cycle of drug trafficking: import, production, storage, and distribution.
Sara Khalifa was accused of financing and coordinating the activities of the group.
The court also sentenced her to five years in prison for a separate case involving sexual assault and unlawful detention.
Nine defendants received life sentences, seven were acquitted, and the remaining 11 received death sentences.
The death penalty decision is appealable through the Egyptian judicial system.
The court obtained a recommendation from the Grand Mufti of Egypt, which is required in capital cases but is non-binding.
Khalifa was arrested in April 2025.

The court found Khalifa guilty of sexual assault on her personal driver, including video recording of the incident, and sentenced her to three years of corrective labor. — vesti
Khalifa was sentenced to five years in prison in a separate case for unlawful detention and assault on a young man. — riamo
Nine defendants received life sentences and fines of 100,000 Egyptian pounds (approx. 170,000 rubles). — vm
The court sentenced Khalifa and others to five years in prison for the separate case of assault and kidnapping. — kommerant
The prosecution alleged that Khalifa traveled abroad to meet co-conspirators to coordinate drug procurement and import. — vesti
The group included Iraqi and Egyptian nationals as leaders. — riamo
The drug lab was discovered in a luxury district of Cairo, disguised as a private apartment. — tg_tass_agency