Istanbul Prosecutor's Office has detained 16 celebrities in a drug case. The main thing

The Istanbul Prosecutor's Office conducted a large-scale operation against representatives of Turkish business, sports and show business as part of an investigation into drug trafficking. Currently, 14 people have been detained, four of them have been arrested, and the rest have been released under a travel ban. Arrest warrants have been issued for two defendants who were abroad. All the details are in the Izvestia article.

How the case arose: drug parties on the Bosphorus

According to Turkish Minute, the investigation has been underway since the end of December 2025. By March 2026, a total of 36 people had been detained in the case, and seven defendants had their property seized under the article on money laundering. Among those who have already gone through investigative actions are actor Jan Yaman, who was detained in January at Istanbul's Bebek Otel, actress Ezgi Eyuboglu, singers Hadise and Irem Deritsi, actor Dogukan Gunger, known for the TV series "Cranberry Sherbet", as well as comedian Hassan Jan Kaya.

According to Turkiye Today, the investigation is based on the testimony of people who worked for businessman Kasim Garipoglu, a bartender and a driver. In their testimony, they told the investigation that Garipoglu regularly organized night parties that lasted until the morning at his villa in Istanbul's fashionable Yenikey district on the shores of the Bosphorus. Guests were allowed only on recommendations, and the use of phones at parties was prohibited. According to the data haberler.com In addition to drug use, sexual relations with multiple partners were reportedly practiced at a number of parties at the same time. On the driver's phone, investigators found a list of people who allegedly attended these meetings, which formed the basis for the current wave of detentions.

Turkish authorities have issued an arrest warrant for actress Hande Ercel. What is known

According to Euronews, he is the son of Hayam Garipoglu, the head of the Garipoglu Group of Companies, and the cousin of Cem Garipoglu, who was convicted in 2009 of murdering 17—year-old Myunevver Karabulut, whose body was found in garbage cans in Istanbul's Etiler district.

Operation and detention

As specified in the Daily Sabah article, on March 25, the Istanbul police department simultaneously conducted searches at 16 addresses in the city. Fourteen people were detained and sent to the Institute of Forensic Medicine to take blood and hair samples, and then transferred to the Istanbul Court in Caglayan. Arrest warrants have been issued for two defendants who were abroad.

The actress of the TV series "Knock on my door", Hande Ercel, testified in court

According to the data operativmm.az Former Besiktas president Fikret Orman and TV presenter Guzide Duran were detained together, while businessman Kerim Sabanci was detained right at Istanbul airport upon his return from abroad. The full list of defendants is provided by Daily Sabah: Fikret Orman, Guzide Duran, Hakan Sabanji, Kerim Sabanji, Hande Ercel, Burak Elmas, Sezgin Kaysuren, Ferhat Aydin, Lutfie Tugce Ozbudak, Koray Serenli, Onur Bukcu, Ismail Behram Perincekli, Kaan Mellart, Didem Soidan, Onur Talai and Mustafa Tari.

After testifying to the prosecutor's office, Hakan and Kerim Sabanji, Burak Elmas, Fikret Orman, Guzide Duran and Didem Soidan were released with a ban on leaving the country. Onur Bucciu was released without any restrictions. At the same time, four defendants — Korai Serenli, Onur Talai, Sezgin Kaysuren and Mustafa Tari — were arrested by order of the duty judge. Fikret Orman denied all charges during the interrogation. Model Didem Soidan said in her testimony that during a fashion show in France, she took a drag on a cigarette from a foreign colleague, not knowing what it contained, Sabah recounts her testimony.

All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.