Egyptian actress Menna Shalaby was flying back home from New York when she was met with an unexpected surprise at the airport. After arriving in Cairo International Airport, Shalaby was detained for suspicious objects in her carry-on. Shalaby’s belongings were put through the X-ray machine, which showed “the presence of organic densities,” and were set aside to be examined for narcotics.
Shalaby was detained for allegedly carrying cannabis, which is illegal in Egypt and punishable by law. She was quick to deny possessing any narcotics in her belongings, stating, “After a while, I found many people and officers looking at a green box and telling me that it contained marijuana. I told them that this is not true and it was normal makeup.” She was also accused of having cocaine in her possession, but stated, “I told him that I do not consume them in the first place but then they told me to wait a while.”
While coming from a foreign country with remnants of narcotic substances in one’s bloodstream is not illegal, bringing narcotics with the intention of use is still illegal in Egypt. It was said that she had the intent to use, and not to share the narcotics with anyone when she arrived home.
The next day, Shalaby was released on bail in the amount of EGP50,000 (US1,838.20). The possessions were seized and sent to a chemical lab to confirm that they were cannabis and hash. She still denied having any narcotics in her possession, and her lawyer quickly attempted to make a plea during the trial hearing, stating that the actress had no connection to the seized substances.
On January 5, 2023, Shalaby was to appear in court for these allegations, but never showed. With five testimonies submitted to the prosecution by the airport personnel who inspected the belongings, Shalaby was given a one-year suspended prison sentence by the Cairo Criminal Court. She was also fined EGP10,000 (US367.60), and sentenced to three years’ probation.
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