Archive images of rapper Norm Ender (left) and actor Burak Deniz (right) amid the latest Turkish celebrity drug investigation. (Photo collage by Türkiye Today Team)
April 09, 2026 09:56 AM GMT+03:00
A new wave of detentions has been carried out as part of an ongoing drug investigation in Türkiye, with several well-known public figures among those taken into custody. Authorities issued detention orders for 14 individuals, including rapper Norm Ender and actor Burak Deniz, as the probe widened in Istanbul.
Expanding investigation brings in public figures
The latest operation was launched by the Istanbul Anadolu Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, a regional judicial authority responsible for criminal investigations on the Asian side of Istanbul. Acting on detention orders, police detained 11 suspects in coordinated early-morning raids, while searches continue for two others, and one individual has been identified as being abroad.
Among those named in the investigation are several figures from the entertainment and media industries, including singer Mert Demir, musician Emircan Igrek, TV personality and chef Somer Sivrioglu, and actress Hafsanur Sancaktutan.
Detention orders cover a broad list of names
The prosecutor’s office confirmed that the operation targeted 14 suspects in total. In addition to the prominent figures, the list includes individuals identified as Serra Pirinc, Ogun Alibas, Utku Unsal, Sinem Ozenc Unsal, Elif Busra Pekin, Ahsen Eroglu, Emre Ozturk (also known as FEL), Ender Eroglu, and Enes Guler.
Authorities stated that 11 suspects have already been detained, while efforts are underway to locate the remaining individuals. The investigation is being carried out under drug-related charges, though no further details about the allegations have been disclosed at this stage.
Official statement confirms ongoing operations
In its statement, the prosecutor’s office indicated that the operation was part of a broader investigation into alleged drug-related activities. Officials said the detentions were conducted simultaneously and that procedures are continuing for those in custody, while cross-border aspects of the case are also being examined due to one suspect being abroad.
Earlier wave saw releases under judicial control measures
The latest developments follow an earlier round of detentions earlier in the week, when several other well-known names, including Simge Sagin, Ibrahim Celikkol, Melek Mosso, Mustafa Ceceli, and Ilkay Sencan, had also been taken into custody.
Following procedures at the gendarmerie, where hair and blood samples were collected for forensic analysis, several of those individuals were released. Some were freed without restrictions, while others were placed under judicial control measures, including travel bans preventing them from leaving the country.
April 09, 2026 09:57 AM GMT+03:00