Simge, Mustafa Ceceli and other celebrities detained in Istanbul drug bust

As part of a drug operation conducted by the Beykoz Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office in Istanbul, several famous figures, including musicians and actors, were detained by the Istanbul Provincial Gendarmerie Narcotics Crime Control Branch Directorate.

According to a statement from the prosecutor’s office, singers Simge Sagin, Mustafa Ceceli, Bengu Erden, Melek Mosso, and actor Ibrahim Celikkol were among those taken into custody.

Serious charges leveled

The detained celebrities are facing charges of “purchasing, accepting, or possessing drugs or stimulants for personal use,” “using drugs or stimulants,” and “providing drugs or stimulants.”

The prosecutor’s office shared that the concurrent detentions and house searches were carried out based on evidence obtained, tips, and information gathered during the ongoing investigation.

Mauro Icardi and Simge Sagin sing “Askin Olayim” in front of a lively crowd at Galatasaray Stadium on June 13, 2023. (Photo via X)

Legal process underway

The famous figures are expected to first undergo a routine health check at a hospital, after which they will be taken to the Forensic Medicine Institute for drug testing. Subsequently, they will be brought to the courthouse to give their statements to the prosecutor.

Based on their testimonies, a decision will be made regarding their legal status. Depending on the prosecutor’s request, these individuals will either be released or formally referred to court.

Previous operations targeted other elites

This latest wave of arrests follows similar actions taken recently. In various drug operations carried out in recent weeks, other well-known public figures such as actor Can Yaman, actress Hande Ercel, businessmen Haci Sabanci and Hakan Sabanci, Fenerbahce President Saadettin Saran, and journalist Mehmet Akif Ersoy were also detained.

April 07, 2026 10:15 AM GMT+03:00