Turkey witnesses a fresh series of arrests of public figures as part of a comprehensive drug investigation.
Singer Yusuf Güney, who advocated the use of ayahuasca tea containing banned substances, was also apprehended.
Turkish actor Burak Deniz, famous for his roles in “Our Story”, “Love Does Not Understand Words”, “Queen of the Night”, and “Completely Different”, was detained in Istanbul amid a drug inquiry, as reported by Haberturk on 09.04.2026.
Reportedly, 1 gram of plant-based drugs was discovered in his possession during a search. He has been taken to the gendarmerie for a drug test and a statement.
In connection with the same investigation, 14 individuals were previously detained, including members of one of the wealthiest families in the country, businessmen Hakan and Kerim Sabanci, former Galatasaray football club president Burak Elmas, actress Güzide Duran, and other notable figures in Turkey.
Yusuf Güney was also apprehended by order of the Istanbul Chief Prosecutor’s Office for promoting drug use. The arrest was prompted by his endorsement of ayahuasca tea on his YouTube channel, which contains the prohibited substance DMT.
Güney, who was a guest on a digital platform and encouraged the use of ayahuasca tea, was detained by police.
The Istanbul Police Department’s Drug Crimes Unit, alongside the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, discovered that DMT, present in the ayahuasca tea promoted by Güney, is banned under Law No. 23134, according to a police statement.
Yusuf Güney is currently being interrogated at the police station.
Ayahuasca is a potent, psychoactive brew from the Amazon used in shamanic rituals for purification, self-awareness, and healing. It is made from the Banisteriopsis caapi vine and Psychotria viridis leaves, which contain strong hallucinogens (DMT).
The Turkish authorities’ extensive investigation into drug use within the entertainment industry commenced in October 2025. Numerous actors, journalists, performers, singers, musicians, influencers, producers, and businessmen have been detained in a series of operations. Among those detained are the renowned singer Aleyna Tilki, actor Can Yaman, and producer Timur Savci.
In February, an Istanbul court arrested the owner of the five-star Bebek Hotel on the Bosphorus, confiscating the property where the investigation alleged parties occurred involving drug use by local elites, actors, singers, and influencers.
Photo: Turkish actor and model Burak Deniz
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