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Among the 13 suspects remanded in custody is former Galatasaray footballer Umit Karan, as an investigation led by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office into alleged drug-related crimes and activities linked to prostitution continues to widen. The case has resulted in 13 suspects being jailed pending trial, while nine others have been placed under judicial control measures, including three under house arrest.
Prosecutors said the probe is being handled by specialized units focusing on smuggling, narcotics, and organized crime, and that prosecutor interviews have now been completed for all 23 suspects involved.
The Prosecutor’s Office stated that the suspects are being assessed over allegations including drug trafficking, facilitating drug use, and encouraging or mediating prostitution, or providing premises for such activities.
According to the information provided, 18 people were taken into police custody in an earlier wave. Later, five additional suspects were detained in what was described as a new round that included actors Cagla Boz and Melis Sabah, as well as Emre Yalcin, Ahmet Sasmaz and Nazlican Taskin.
The Prosecutor’s Office said police units from Istanbul’s Narcotics Department and Organized Crime Department carried out detention, search and seizure procedures under file number 2025/280882, adding that the investigation was continuing “meticulously.” In the official statement, prosecutors said, “Within the scope of the investigation… 18 suspects have been detained,” while listing the suspected offenses as drug trafficking, facilitating drug use, and encouraging prostitution or acting as an intermediary or providing a venue.
Former Galatasaray footballer Umit Karan was reported to have been detained at an airport earlier in the process. After custody procedures, the 23 suspects were taken to the Council of Forensic Medicine (Adli Tip Kurumu), where hair and blood samples were collected, and they then gave statements to prosecutors at the Istanbul courthouse in Caglayan.
Nazlican Taskin was reported to have fainted during the referral process to the criminal judgeship of peace and to have been taken to the hospital, with her questioning to be completed after she is discharged.
Following the completion of prosecutor interviews, courts ordered pre-trial detention for 13 suspects, including Umit Karan and Melis Sabah. Nine other suspects were released under judicial control, with 6 receiving overseas travel bans and 3 placed under house arrest.
In Türkiye, “judicial control” is a court-ordered alternative to detention that can include measures such as a travel ban or house arrest, while “remanded in custody” refers to pre-trial detention ordered by a judge.
Remanded in custody (13):
Judicial control with overseas travel ban (6):
Reports said that, earlier in the investigation, names including Seyma Subasi, Selen Gorguzel, Oktay Kaynarca, Emel Muftuoglu, Neda Sahin, Ali Sert, Rabia Karatas and Selen Cetinkaya had been taken into custody.
It added that Subasi, Gorguzel, Muftuoglu and Kaynarca were released with overseas travel bans, while Ali Sert and Rabia Karatas were remanded in custody, and Neda Sahin and Cetinkaya were released under judicial control.
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