In Turkey, drug operations targeting celebrities have been carried out over the past week. Dozens of people were detained, including Sadettin Saran, the President of Fenerbahçe Sports Club. While Saran was released, many others were arrested.
During the operations, journalist Mehmet Akif Ersoy and many television series and film actors were also detained, with authorities claiming that these individuals had used drugs.
Meanwhile, no operations have been carried out regarding how the drugs were obtained or against the real drug barons. In Istanbul—described as one of the cities where drugs are sold the most worldwide—it is stated that international mafia groups, especially those from Balkan countries, are deeply entrenched. It is alleged that many mafia leaders are protected by individuals within the police and the state.
It is also known that those who control the Turkish mafia and the drug market have close ties with the ruling AKP and MHP. Mafia leader Alaaddin Çakıcı frequently visits Devlet Bahçeli, the leader of the MHP, which is a coalition partner of the government, and has photographs taken with him.
Mafia groups openly post advertisements on the internet, stating “Assault: 500,000 TL, murder: 2 million TL,” effectively advertising death. However, the AKP and Erdoğan government do not target these mafia figures and drug barons, instead focusing on celebrities who use drugs.
According to commentators, these operations are aimed at power struggles and blackmail among factions within the AKP.
