An Egyptian television personality with a large public following was sentenced Saturday to death by hanging in a sweeping narcotics case involving allegations that dozens of people helped build an organized network for producing and distributing synthetic drugs.
Sarah Khalifa was one of 12 defendants ordered to face execution over alleged involvement in the operation, which prosecutors said included bringing in materials used to make illegal narcotics, state-linked outlet Ahram Online reported. In Egypt, death sentences in civilian cases are carried out by hanging.
Khalifa is known in Egypt as a media figure, former TV presenter and beauty clinic owner who has appeared across multiple local television channels. According to Egyptian outlet Masrawy, she previously presented the crime program “Mission Impossible.”
The former host, who has built an Instagram audience of more than 2.5 million followers, was reportedly taken into custody in Cairo in April 2025 as authorities pursued the investigation.
Sara Khalifa has more than 2.5 million Instagram followers and was arrested in Cairo in April 2025. (@sara_khaliifa/Instagram)
In all, 28 defendants were tried in the case on charges that included forming an organized criminal gang and possessing unlicensed weapons and ammunition, according to Ahram Online. The court handed down 12 death sentences, gave nine defendants life in prison and cleared seven others of the accusations.
The media personality and beauty clinic owner was among 12 people sentenced to death in the Egyptian drug trafficking case. (@sara_khaliifa/Instagram)
Prosecutors alleged the group functioned as a coordinated manufacturing and trafficking operation, with suspects assigned specific tasks. Some were accused of importing raw ingredients, while others allegedly handled the production and distribution of the synthetic drugs, according to media reports.
The group was also accused of storing materials and manufacturing drugs in a residential property.
More than 750 kilograms, or roughly 1,653 pounds, of synthetic narcotics and raw materials were seized during the investigation, prosecutors said, according to reports.
The case against Khalifa and the other defendants relied on statements from 20 witnesses, along with technical and digital evidence, including messages, photographs and videos that prosecutors said documented the alleged criminal activity, according to Ahram Online.
Khalifa was one of 12 defendants sentenced to death in a case involving alleged drug manufacturing, trafficking and firearms violations. (@sara_khaliifa/Instagram)
Authorities also placed the defendants’ assets and bank accounts under precautionary measures and ordered those already in custody to remain detained, Ahram Online reported.
