site.btaNew Wave of Well-Known Public Figures Arrested in Turkiye in Large-Scale Drug Use Investigation

Turkiye woke up to a new wave of arrests of well-known public figures as part of a large-scale investigation into drug use, Turkish media reported on Thursday. Among those detained this morning, a total of 11 people, are some of the most prominent actors of the younger generation, who play leading roles in cult television series – Burak Deniz and Hafsanur Sancaktutan.

Also detained were Sinem Ozgenc Unsal, Elif Busra Pekin, Ahsen Eroglu, as well as the well-known rap artist Ender Eroglu (Norm Ender), and musicians Utku Unsal and Mert Demir.

In a statement published in the Turkish media by the errorism and Organized Crimes Investigation Bureau at the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecution Office, it is stated that “within the framework of the operation carried out in coordination with the Anti-Narcotics Department of the Provincial Gendarmerie, arrest warrants have been issued for 14 suspects believed to have participated in the offences of ‘purchasing, receiving or possessing narcotic or stimulant substances for personal use’, ‘use of narcotic or stimulant substances’, and ‘supplying narcotic or stimulant substances’.”

According to the statement, 11 of the individuals for whom warrants have been issued have been detained, two are at large, and one is abroad. The detainees have been taken in for questioning and to give statements on the charges brought against them. They are expected to be brought before the court and to provide drug samples.

Actress Hafsanur Sancaktutan is currently playing the leading role in the television series Kiskanmak, which has the highest ratings in the country. Born in 1991, Burak Deniz is part of the younger generation of actors. Among his notable roles is that in the series Bambaska Biri, where his co-star is Hande Ercel.

Hande Ercel was also detained as part of the authorities’ campaign against drug use, but her test results were negative and she was released from the investigation.

Earlier, singer Simge Sagin was detained, later released, but placed under a travel ban. Among those detained was also actor Ibrahim Celikkol, who was likewise released at a later stage.

The large-scale investigation by the Turkish authorities into drug use in the entertainment industry in Turkiye began in October last year. The list of actors, journalists, performers, singers, musicians, influencers, producers and businesspeople detained in the several consecutive operations carried out so far is long.

In February this year, a court in Istanbul arrested the owner of the five-star Bebek hotel on the shores of the Bosphorus and confiscated the hotel, where, according to the investigation, parties had been held at which members of the local elite, actors, singers and influencers used drugs.