An Egyptian court has sentenced 12 people, including television host Sarah Khalifa, to death. The ruling came in a major drug manufacturing and smuggling case involving an alleged criminal network.
Authorities accused the defendants of producing narcotics and distributing them across the market. The court delivered its verdict after reviewing evidence presented during the trial.
Court Finds Defendants Guilty
According to Arab media reports, Sarah Khalifa denied all drug-related charges. However, the judge found the defendants guilty based on the available evidence.
Investigators told the court they had seized more than 750 kilograms of illegal drugs. Authorities also recovered large quantities of raw materials allegedly used for narcotics production.
Egypt’s state-owned newspaper Al-Ahram reported that the defendants were linked to an organised criminal syndicate. Prosecutors alleged that the group imported raw materials from abroad to manufacture and sell narcotics.
During the operation, law enforcement agencies also recovered illegal weapons and ammunition. The findings formed a key part of the prosecution’s case against the accused.
Prosecution Presents Witnesses and Evidence
The prosecution presented statements from 20 witnesses during the proceedings. Prosecutors also submitted electronic evidence, including recorded conversations and video clips.
According to court records, the digital material showed communication among the defendants. Authorities argued that the evidence supported allegations of organised criminal activity.
Despite the ruling, Sarah Khalifa and the other convicted individuals retain the right to appeal. The case is expected to continue through Egypt’s legal process in the coming months.
The verdict has attracted significant public attention because of Khalifa’s media profile. Meanwhile, legal proceedings will determine the outcome of any appeals filed by the defendants.
