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Hande Ercel said she will return to Türkiye to give a statement as prosecutors widen a high-profile drug investigation linked to alleged late-night “narco parties” at a Bosphorus mansion tied to fugitive Kasim Garipoglu. The probe has drawn in well-known figures from business, sports, and entertainment, as authorities look into claims that a number of suspects may have attended the gatherings.
The investigation widened after testimony from people said to have worked for Garipoglu as a bartender and driver. In statements to prosecutors, they reportedly said Garipoglu hosted parties that lasted until morning at his mansion in Yenikoy, an upscale Bosphorus neighborhood in Istanbul, and they gave the names of numerous attendees. A review of driver Ismail Ahmet Akcay's phone is also said to have produced a list of people who allegedly took part in the gatherings.
Further attention centered on the mansion itself after authorities identified the phrase "divine circus" written in red letters on the bottom of the pool, seen in aerial images of the property. Investigators determined that the phrase, translated from the source text as "holy chaos" or "sacred circus," was also used as the name of the parties.
According to the information cited from Sabah's Deniz Yusufoglu, Hakan Sabanci and Kerim Sabanci were among the names said to have appeared in connection with the parties. On that basis, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office issued detention orders for 16 well-known suspects, including former Besiktas chairman Fikret Orman, former Galatasaray chairman Burak Elmas, model Didem Soydan, actor Hande Ercel, business figures Hakan Sabanci and Kerim Sabanci, and former model Guzide Duran.
The full list of names given in the case included Fikret Orman, Guzide Duran, Hakan Sabanci, Kerim Sabanci, Hande Ercel, Burak Elmas, Sezgin Koysuren, Ferhat Aydin, Lutfiye Tugce Ozbudak, Koray Serenli, Onur Bukcu, Ismail Behrem Perincekli, Kaan Mellart, Didem Soydan, Onur Talay, and Mustafa Tari.
Raids were carried out at the suspects' addresses, leading to the detention of 14 people, including Orman, Duran, Hakan Sabanci, Kerim Sabanci, and Elmas. Authorities said Ercel was abroad, while one other suspect could not be reached. Samples were also taken from the 14 detainees.
After news of the detention order against her emerged, Ercel said on social media that she had been abroad for about a month for education and had only learned of the matter through media reports the previous night.
She said, "I have been abroad for about a month due to my education. Last night, like you, I learned through the news reports about the matter, and I will return to my country to help clarify it and give my statement. I am someone who loves her country and trusts the state and Turkish justice. I believe the situation will be clarified as soon as possible."
Meanwhile, the 14 detained suspects completed police procedures and were taken to Istanbul's main courthouse in Caglayan after health checks.
In its earlier statement, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office said the investigation had been launched in order to protect public morality, social order, and family structure. After reviewing the collected evidence, prosecutors said detention instructions had been issued for 16 suspects accused of either possessing drugs for personal use or making drug use easier.
As part of the investigation, Istanbul police narcotics teams carried out simultaneous operations at 16 addresses. Prosecutors also said arrest warrants had been issued for Kaan Mellart and Hande Ercel, while the other suspects were detained and taken for blood and hair sampling before being transferred to the narcotics unit.
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