Egyptian TV presenter sentenced to death in drug trafficking case

An Egyptian court handed down death sentences on Saturday to television presenter Sarah Khalifa, 39, and eleven co‑defendants after finding them guilty of forming an organized criminal gang to manufacture and traffic narcotics. Khalifa, widely recognized for hosting the security‑focused program “Mission Impossible,” was charged with orchestrating the large‑scale drug operation that authorities described as one of the country’s most extensive cases in recent years.

The court’s ruling includes capital punishment for all twelve individuals, reflecting Egypt’s strict penalties for drug‑related offenses. Prosecutors presented evidence linking the group to the production and distribution of illicit substances across multiple regions, while defense lawyers argued for leniency based on Khalifa’s public profile. The sentences underscore the government’s intensified campaign against organized drug trafficking and signal a continued hardline stance on narcotics crimes.