Prosecutors in Istanbul have ordered the detention of 25 prominent figures, including singers, actors and media personalities, as part of a wide-ranging narcotics investigation.
On Thursday, the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office said the ongoing probe targets individuals suspected of buying, possessing or using illegal drugs or stimulants.
According to local media reports, police have carried out searches, raids and forensic examinations, and collected biological samples from suspects as part of the investigation.
Authorities said police raids uncovered various illegal substances, including marijuana, ecstasy and methamphetamine, along with syringes and other drug paraphernalia.
Among those for whom detention warrants have been issued are singer Mabel Matiz and actress Serenay Sarıkaya.
Sarıkaya, known for her roles in several popular Turkish television series, said she was abroad when the investigation became public and pledged to return to Türkiye to comply with the warrant.
Other high-profile individuals named in the probe include singers Berkay Şahin, Tan Taşçı and Niran Ünsal, actors Onur Tuna and Feyza Civelek, and rapper Blok3, whose real name is Hakan Aydın.
Taşçı, in a social media post, said he had turned himself in to police in the Turkish city of Bodrum after learning of the allegations from news reports.
According to local media, 17 people have so far been detained, while efforts to locate others remain ongoing.
None of the allegations, however, has yet been proven in court.
The latest wave of detention orders is part of a broader anti-drug operation that has, in recent months, ensnared several prominent figures in the worlds of business, media and entertainment.
The ongoing crackdown has included raids on alleged drug-production sites and dealers, some of whom reportedly stand accused of smuggling drugs, particularly cocaine, into the country by sea.
A "largely negotiated" memorandum of understanding on an Iran peace deal would reopen the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturd...
An explosion on a railway track in Pakistan's Quetta killed at least 24 people, news outlet Al Arabiya reported on Sunday, citing officials....
Police fired tear gas and clashed with protesters in central Belgrade on Saturday, as tens of thousands gathered to demand early elections and an end ...
Russia struck Ukraine's capital Kyiv on Sunday with a massive wave of missiles and drones that damaged residential buildings, offices and schools, kil...
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 24 May, covering the latest developments you need to know....
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday (22 May) on the sidelines of a NATO foreign ministers’ meeting in the Swedish city of Helsingborg.
A Turkish court has effectively removed the main opposition leader, Özgür Özel, in a ruling that has deepened political tensions and rattled financial markets.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will attend a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in the Swedish city of Helsingborg on Thursday and Friday, diplomatic sources said.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen discussed Türkiye-EU relations and rising Middle East tensions during a phone call on Tuesday.
Fighting in the Russia–Ukraine war has intensified sharply, with both sides launching significant strikes far beyond the front lines as the conflict enters its 1,549th day.
As the 13th edition of the World Urban Forum ended, Azerbaijan's Pavilion showcased reconstruction efforts in its liberated territories and foregrounded the importance of mine removal in resettlement efforts.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 23rd May, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Ukraine’s military denied that it struck a student dormitory in the Russian-controlled Luhansk region on Friday (22 May).
China has revised the number of dead following a gas explosion at a coal mine in northern China, from 90 to 82, in what is the country's deadliest mining accident in 17 years.
Archaeologists in Kyrgyzstan’s Naryn region are uncovering medieval bathhouses, mausoleums and ancient Silk Road settlements, while warning that many historical sites are rapidly deteriorating because of the weather and erosion.
An interactive map showcasing the Christian heritage of Caucasian Albania in Garabagh was presented in London this week, highlighting Azerbaijan’s efforts to preserve and promote the religious and cultural legacy of the region.
The nomination of Russian-Armenian businessman Ruben Vardanyan for the 2026 Václav Havel Human Rights Prize has triggered criticism.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday (22 May) on the sidelines of a NATO foreign ministers’ meeting in the Swedish city of Helsingborg.
Traditional pottery from Gijduvan has officially received geographical indication status in Uzbekistan, recognising the centuries-old craft as a product closely linked to its region of origin and cultural heritage.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment