Turkish actor and World Cup star among 16 held in Istanbul drug raids

A Turkish actor and a footballer who helped the national football team finish third at the 2002 World Cup were among 16 people detained in anti-drug raids across Istanbul on Friday as part of a probe into celebrities, venue operators and social media influencers.

Hasan Şaş, who earned 40 caps for the Turkish national team and played for Galatasaray during its most successful European period, and actor Aras Bulut İynemli, known abroad for Netflix Turkey productions, were detained alongside actor Melis Sezen, rapper Sefo and 12 others.

Authorities had not located two further suspects by the time of publication.

Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor's Office said the investigation concerns allegations of using narcotic and psychotropic substances, facilitating their use and mediating their supply.

Authorities ordered biological examinations alongside the searches and detentions.

Others detained include actors Nilperi Şahinkaya, Melisa Şenolsun and Afra Saraçoğlu, YouTuber Melis İşiten, sports journalist Yağız Sabuncuoğlu, model Yeliz Yeşilçimen, content creator Aydan Osmanlı, singer Anıl Durmuş and businesswoman Hande Demir.

Friday's operation is the latest in a series of similar anti-narcotics raids targeting well-known figures in Istanbul since late 2025.

In December 2025, singer Aleyna Tilki, actor İrem Sak and influencer Danla Bilic were among those taken into custody and later released after biological samples were collected.

In May of this year, authorities detained 20 people from a list of 25 suspects that included actors Serenay Sarıkaya and Onur Tuna, singer Mabel Matiz, and television presenter Mirgün Cabas.

In July, searches and biological sampling were carried out on a further 25 suspects including singers Sıla Gençoğlu and İlyas Yalçıntaş and producer Fatih Aksoy. Yalçıntaş was subsequently arrested.