• Sarah Khalifa, a TV presenter, sentenced to death for drug trafficking.
• She was part of a criminal gang accused of producing narcotics.
• The verdict allows for an appeal based on Egypt's legal procedure.
• Over 750 kg of narcotics and illegal firearms were seized during the investigation.
• Khalifa has denied the charges and claims innocence.

An Egyptian court has sentenced television presenter Sarah Khalifa and 11 others to death by hanging for their involvement in a drug trafficking operation. The court found the defendants guilty of forming a criminal gang that specialized in procuring materials for manufacturing narcotics with the intent to distribute them. They were also convicted of possessing illegal firearms and ammunition, according to South China Morning Post, BBC, and Al Jazeera.

Khalifa, aged 39 and notable for her program "Mission Impossible," which focuses on security and crime issues, maintained her innocence throughout the trial, stating, "I have never smoked a cigarette in my life." The case included testimony from twenty witnesses and electronic evidence that evidenced the scale of the operation, including over 750 kg of seized narcotics, as reported by South China Morning Post and BBC.

The verdict followed a mandatory consultation with Egypt's Grand Mufti, reflecting the country's legal practices regarding death sentences. Khalifa and others have the right to appeal, and under recent judicial reforms, defendants can request a retrial, according to Al Jazeera and BBC.

Additionally, in a separate ruling on the same day, Khalifa received a three-year prison sentence for assaulting a driver, highlighting the severity of her legal troubles. These developments underscore the stringent measures Egypt employs against drug-related crimes, including the death penalty, as reported by South China Morning Post, BBC, and Al Jazeera.