Sarah Khalifa, a 39-year-old former host of the Egyptian crime show 'Mission Impossible,' has been sentenced to death by hanging for her involvement in a drug trafficking ring. The sentencing took place in Cairo, as reported by Al-Jazeera. Khalifa was visibly emotional during the court proceedings, pleading, 'Please listen to me, sir. My parents raised me well; they are people who pray, and I don’t need drug money.'
Khalifa was convicted alongside 11 others for operating an organized gang that imported raw materials for drug production. She has a significant social media following, with over 2 million followers. Khalifa denied the charges, stating she 'never smoked a cigarette in my life.'
In total, nine co-defendants received life sentences, while seven others were acquitted in a case that involved 28 individuals and the seizure of more than 1,600 lbs. of narcotics. Investigators also found unlicensed firearms and ammunition during the operation.
Khalifa and the others were arrested in 2025 and charged with importing materials to manufacture synthetic drugs, which were stored in residential homes, according to officials. The court's verdict followed a consultation with Egypt’s grand mufti, as required by law in capital cases. The sentence can be appealed under recent judicial reforms.