On 18 September, the Turkish authorities issued arrest warrants for at least 24 people, including several actors, singers and a former footballer, as part of the latest phase of a wide-ranging investigation into drugs and prostitution targeting celebrities in Turkey. The investigation began almost a year ago and involved actors from Turkish TV series, singers and influencers.
Among those arrested in the last 24 hours as part of this new operation are popular actors such as Aras Bulut İynemli, Melis Sezen, Afra Saraçoğlu, Nilperi Şahinkaya and Melis İşiten, as well as the singer Sefo, the former footballer Hasan Şaş and the actress Melis Sezen, known for her role in the Turkish series “Unfaithful” (Sadakatsiz).
An investigation into drugs and prostitution
The operation, targeting offences relating to the trafficking and consumption of drugs and the promotion of prostitution, was launched as part of an investigation initiated by the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office (Istanbul). According to the Turkish newspaper Hürriyet, those arrested include actors, singers, businesspeople, entrepreneurs and social media influencers.
According to a statement from the public prosecutor’s office, the investigation – which forms part of the fight against drugs that threaten public health and safety – gathered evidence supporting a reasonable suspicion that some of the suspects, publicly known as actors, singers, business people, entrepreneurs and social media influencers, used drugs and stimulants, facilitated their use or provided venues for the use of narcotics.
Consequently, the Bakırköy Public Prosecutor’s Office instructed the Istanbul Provincial Gendarmerie Command to arrest 18 suspects, search their properties, carry out biological tests and subsequently transfer them to the prosecutor’s office to give statements.
At the same time, as part of another investigation by the same public prosecutor’s office relating to the offences of drug use and supply, invasion of privacy, blackmail and the promotion of prostitution, arrest warrants were issued for a further six people. Consequently, the operations carried out as part of both investigations involved a total of 24 suspects, of whom 20 were arrested.
The names of the Turkish celebrities arrested
The celebrities arrested in Istanbul as part of the investigation were subsequently taken to a hospital for medical checks. They are also expected to undergo blood and hair tests to detect the presence of drugs.
The Turkish TV series actress Afra Saraçoğlu, another of the celebrities arrested, stated in a social media post that she is currently abroad on a business trip, although she assured that she will return to Turkey as soon as possible to cooperate with the authorities and give a statement.
Among the celebrities arrested in the operation targeting drug-related offences are the following:
- Aras Bulut İynemli
- Seyfullah Sağır (Sefo)
- Melis Sezen
- Nilperi Şahinkaya
- Hande Demir
- Hasan Şaş
- Melis İşiten
- Yeşim Yeşilçimen
- Anıl Durmuş
- Sayat Zurnacı
- Yağız Sabuncuoğlu
- Aytaç Kart
- Muhammet Kahyaoğlu
- Aydan Osmanoğlu
With regard to the investigation into offences relating to drug use and supply, invasion of privacy, blackmail and the promotion of prostitution, the following names of celebrities have been disclosed:
- Volkan Akçıray
- Zeynep Akçıray
- Eda Güzelcik
- Sezer Çakır
- Hazal Filiz Küçükköse
- Yeliz Tuba Yasa
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Edited and reviewed by:
Pablo Gómez is a specialist in Turkey and has been editor-in-chief of Hispanatolia since 2011. He has been analysing current affairs and geopolitics in Turkey and the surrounding region since 2006.
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