Khaberni - Gendarmerie teams in Istanbul province conducted a widespread operation at dawn on Wednesday against a number of artists and influencers, based on allegations of drug and banned stimulant abuse, sparking widespread controversy in the Turkish street and on social media.
Based on instructions from the Public Prosecutor in Istanbul for Anti-Smuggling and Narcotics and Economic Crimes branch, units from the regional gendarmerie raided the homes of several celebrities, including artists Hadise, Bergüzar Korel, Dilan Çiçek Deniz, Engin Altan Düzyatan, Cem Yılmaz, Kıvanç Tatlıtuğ, Kenan İmirzalıoğlu, Beren Saat, Demet Evgar, Özge Özpirinçci, Murat Yıldırım, Hadise (again mentioned for emphasis), besides several content creators, on drug use charges.
Local newspapers and websites reported that all the mentioned persons, totaling 19, were taken to the Istanbul gendarmerie headquarters to give statements and have blood samples taken to check for the abuse of prohibited substances.
Sources noted that the operation does not include arrest orders for the celebrities, but is limited to administrative investigation and biological sample collection, with the expectation of their release after the preliminary investigation concludes. Despite the uproar that accompanied the case, described as a "scandal" for the stars, the Turkish Public Prosecutor has not issued any official statements revealing the details of the operation yet.
None of the stars have commented on the investigation and charges, except for the lawyer of the artist Hadise, who stated to the media that his client was outside Turkey at the time of the call, and that she would cooperate with the relevant authorities upon her return. The lawyer confirmed that his client had never used any prohibited substances throughout her life, and that the case is still in the information gathering stage.
The Turkish public and media widely engaged with the case, described in the media as the "celebrity drug campaign." They noted that it was the first time that the gendarmerie conducted the raids instead of the police, raising questions among the Turkish public opinion.
