Turkish gendarmes detain 18 celebrities in Istanbul drug probe

In Istanbul, Turkish gendarmes detained 18 individuals on Friday, among them actors Aras Bulut İynemli and Afra Saraçoğlu and former national-team footballer Hasan Şaş, as part of an ongoing drug probe aimed at celebrities. The Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office authorized the detentions, citing evidence that the suspects had used illegal substances, helped others to do so, or provided locations for drug consumption.

The Istanbul Provincial Gendarmerie Command was tasked with arresting the suspects, conducting searches, and obtaining biological tests and statements before delivering them to the prosecutor’s office. This raid is the latest in a sequence of investigations that started in October 2025 and have since broadened to include actors, musicians, TV personalities, journalists, influencers, businesspeople and venue operators. Earlier sweeps in April, May and July saw dozens of public figures detained, many of whom were released after providing negative toxicology results, while others remain under investigation. Critics argue the focus on high-profile individuals diverts attention from larger trafficking networks.