Egyptian TV presenter Sarah Khalifa viral news has drawn widespread attention after a Cairo criminal court sentenced the television personality and 11 other defendants to death over convictions linked to the manufacturing and trafficking of synthetic drugs.
The Egyptian TV presenter Sarah Khalifa viral case involved a total of 28 defendants. Prosecutors accused the group of importing raw materials, manufacturing synthetic narcotics and preparing the drugs for distribution.
Sarah Khalifa, 39, is a media personality known for presenting a programme focused on crime-related issues. She has denied the allegations and maintained that she was not involved in the alleged criminal activities.
According to Egyptian state media reports, authorities seized more than 750 kilograms of synthetic narcotics and materials allegedly used in their production. Investigators said the group operated through a division of responsibilities, including importing materials, manufacturing drugs and distributing them.
The defendants were also convicted of possessing firearms and ammunition without licences, according to reports.
Prosecutors presented statements from 20 witnesses along with technical and digital evidence, including messages, photographs and videos, which they said linked the defendants to the alleged criminal network.
The Egyptian TV presenter Sarah Khalifa viral story also gained attention because of Khalifa’s statements in court. During a hearing last September, she reportedly told the judge that she had never seen drugs before being photographed with them inside the offices of Egypt’s anti-narcotics authority. She rejected the accusations against her.
Khalifa was arrested in Cairo in April 2025 during the investigation. Prosecutors said two other defendants remain at large and have been placed on travel bans and watch lists.
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The death sentences were referred to Egypt’s Grand Mufti for an advisory opinion, as required in Egyptian capital cases. The court formally confirmed the verdict on Saturday after receiving the Mufti’s opinion.
The Egyptian TV presenter Sarah Khalifa viral case is not necessarily over. Khalifa and the other defendants sentenced to death have the right to appeal before Egypt’s Court of Cassation, the country’s highest court for criminal cases.
Egypt allows the death penalty for several serious offences, including drug trafficking, although capital sentences remain subject to further judicial and legal procedures.