Extensive security investigations target celebrities over drug charges

Medical test results conducted on a group of prominent figures from the fields of art, sports, and social media have revealed positive indicators for drug use in the case of young actress Afra Saraçoglu. The laboratory analysis for Saraçoglu's sample, who recently returned to the country and underwent testing, indicated the presence of traces of cocaine. Furthermore, the tests showed positive results regarding former Turkish football star Hasan Şaş, while the results were entirely negative for actor Aras Bulut İynemli and journalist Yağız Sabuncuoğlu. Individuals who have shown traces of drugs in their samples face legal accusations related to the purchase, possession, and consumption of narcotics, with penalties ranging from two to five years in prison, alongside potential additional prison sentences if the violation occurs near open public spaces, educational and sports facilities, hospitals, schools, and places of worship. On the other hand, the public prosecutor holds the authority to postpone the filing of public lawsuits against suspects of drug use, provided that the defendant participates in specific rehabilitation programs for a full year, ending with the clearing of their criminal record if they meet the program's requirements. The authorities have carried out intermittent security campaigns to combat drugs since last October, targeting a large number of well-known figures and resulting in the documentation of drug use among a segment of artists, journalists, and social media celebrities. A previous campaign that included about twenty-five stars had revealed positive traces of drugs to varying degrees in the samples of some individuals, including actor Onur Tuna and singer Mabel Matiz, alongside the acquittal of others such as actress Serenay Sarıkaya.