Egyptian court sentences TV presenter, 11 others to death over drug trafficking

An Egyptian court has sentenced television presenter Sarah Khalifa, 39, and 11 others to death for manufacturing and trafficking narcotics, according to a report by The Punch, citing state-linked Al-Ahram newspaper. Khalifa, known for her security and crime program “Mission Impossible,” was convicted of forming an organized criminal gang that procured materials for manufacturing narcotics and possessed unlicensed firearms.

The court consulted Egypt’s Grand Mufti before issuing the verdict, which is subject to appeal. Authorities seized over 750 kilograms of narcotics and raw materials from two apartment laboratories. Khalifa and others were also sentenced to five years for a separate kidnapping and assault case.