Egypt sentences TV presenter and 11 others to death in drugs case

Egyptian media personality Sarah Khalifa and 11 others were sentenced to death on Friday after being found guilty of belonging to an organized crime group involved in synthetic drug manufacturing and trafficking, according to Cairo Criminal Court proceedings. The 39-year-old TV presenter, known for a program on crime-related matters, denied the charges.

The case involved 28 defendants, with prosecutors detailing how the group operated through specialized roles for importing raw materials, drug manufacturing, and distribution. Over 750 kilograms of synthetic narcotics and related substances were seized during the investigation, which reportedly took place in a residential property used for storage and production.

The defendants were additionally convicted of possessing firearms and ammunition without proper licenses. Prosecutors relied on 20 witness testimonies and digital evidence, including communications and visual materials, to build their case. Ms. Khalifa appeared before the court last September, denying involvement, and stating she had never seen drugs before her arrest.

Two individuals remain at large and have been barred from traveling. The death sentences require approval from Egypt's Grand Mufti, a customary step in capital cases, though it does not override the court's decision. Ms. Khalifa and her co-defendants can appeal to Egypt's Court of Cassation, the nation's apex criminal court, before their sentences are finalized.

Egypt maintains the death penalty for severe crimes, including drug trafficking, though executions are subject to additional judicial and legal steps.