Three news anchors from major Turkish television stations were detained in İstanbul on Friday in a narcotics investigation, according to local media.
Ela Rümeysa Cebeci of Show TV, former Habertürk anchor Meltem Acet and Beyaz TV anchor Hande Sarıoğlu were taken into custody by gendarmes as part of an investigation led by the İstanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office.
Show TV is a private national broadcaster, Habertürk is a private news network and Beyaz TV is a conservative-leaning outlet known for talk shows and sports programs.
Law enforcement detained the anchors in morning raids. Video published by Turkish media showed Cebeci and Acet arriving at a hospital for routine medical checks before being transferred to the provincial gendarmerie headquarters.
Reports say the three anchors are suspected of using illegal drugs, not of dealing or trafficking. Under Article 191 of the Turkish Penal Code, possessing or using drugs for personal use is a crime punishable by two to five years in prison, though first-time cases often lead to probation and court-ordered treatment.
The investigation is being carried out by the İstanbul provincial gendarmerie command. The gendarmerie is a uniformed force under the interior ministry that usually patrols rural areas but can take part in major criminal cases in cities when ordered by prosecutors.
Friday’s detentions are reportedly a second phase in a broader probe focused on drug use among celebrities. In October prosecutors summoned singers, actors and social media personalities for questioning and toxicology tests, prompting debate about whether such operations amounted to de facto detention.
Friday’s arrests came the same day prosecutors opened a separate betting and match-fixing investigation in professional soccer that led to dozens of detentions. The cases are formally unrelated but reflect a wider crackdown on public figures.
As of Friday evening prosecutors had not issued a detailed written statement listing the substances involved or the exact accusations. Suspects may be held for questioning for a limited period before a court decides whether to release them or impose judicial supervision measures such as travel bans and periodic check-ins.
