Turkish actors, singers detained in expanding anti-drug operations

ISTANBUL, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Turkish police detained 22 suspects, including prominent figures from the entertainment industry, in a series of anti-drug raids early Thursday, local authorities announced.

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office stated that the coordinated operations, centered in Istanbul and the southwestern province of Mugla, mark a new phase in the country's ongoing crackdown on illegal narcotics.

The detained individuals face charges of "possessing drugs or stimulants for personal use" and "facilitating the use of illicit substances."

Among those taken into custody are some of Türkiye's most recognizable celebrities, including pop singer Kenan Dogulu, actress Beren Saat, and theater actor Enis Arikan, according to the state-run TRT broadcaster.

The raids follow a similar sweep in May, when 25 high-profile figures were also detained as part of an expanding investigation into narcotics networks.

The arrests coincide with broader intensified efforts to combat drug trafficking across the region. Turkish police have seized more than 1.28 tons of narcotics and detained 110 suspects in a series of anti-drug operations centered in Istanbul over the past 10 days, authorities said on Wednesday. Enditem