Turkish Police Launch Massive Operation Against Celebrities and Influencers
The gendarmerie teams in Istanbul, Turkey, conducted a large-scale operation at dawn on Wednesday against a number of artists and influencers. This operation follows accusations of consuming narcotics and illicit substances, sparking widespread controversy on the streets of Turkey and on social media.
Following instructions from the Istanbul General Prosecutor's Office to the Smuggling, Narcotics, and Economic Crimes Department, units from the Regional Gendarmerie Command conducted raids on the homes of several celebrities, including artists Hadise, Birce Akalay, Dilan Polat, Engin Polat, İrem Derici, Kubilay Aka, Kaan Yıldırım, Berrak Tüzünataç, Demet Evgar, Özge Özpirinçci, Mert Yazıcıoğlu, and Ziynet Sali, as well as several content creators, on charges of drug consumption.
Local newspapers and websites reported that all 19 personalities mentioned were taken to the Istanbul Police Department headquarters for questioning and to have blood samples taken to verify their possible consumption of illicit substances.
Sources indicate that the operation does not include arrest warrants for these celebrities, but is limited to an administrative investigation and the collection of biological samples. Their release is expected later, once the preliminary investigation is completed. Despite the uproar surrounding this case, dubbed a "scandal" for these stars, the Turkish Prosecutor's Office has not issued an official statement revealing the details of the operation to date.
