21 released in recent narcotics operation

ISTANBUL - Doğan News Agency

Actor Kenan İmirzalıoğlu was among the detainees that were released after being sent to court.

21 people, including Turkish actor Kenan İmirzalıoğlu, were released Aug. 7 after being sent to court on charges related to a recent narcotics operation that made the headlines with its celebrity detainees.

Nehir Erdoğan, Engin Altan Düzyatan, Ersin Korkut and Özge Özpirinçci were also among the released detainees, as the remaining 27 people were sent to court with arrest requests.

Police have detained actors and musicians including İmirzalıoğlu, Engin Günaydın, Sarp Apak, Şahin Irmak, Düzyatan, Erdoğan, Koray Candemir, Gökçe Özyol, Korkut, Mehmet Erdem, Murat Eken and İlker Aksum as part of the raids in Istanbul, Ankara, İzmir and Muğla.

Forces revealed the primary ground of production as the Cihangir apartment owned by Turkish actor Eray Özbal, where over 115 cannabis plants were discovered, as well as high amounts of ecstasy, marijuana, amphetamines, cocaine, measurement devices and cash.

Özbal also had a young student in Sarıyer providing him with assistance.

The operation, which led to a total of 49 detentions, was commenced eight months ago when the Narcotics Branch Office started monitoring a drug dealer gang that sold drugs at bars in Istanbul’s Beşiktaş and Sarıyer neighborhood. Of those detained, 19 were dealers, officials said.