End of months-long detention amid sweeping investigation

High-profile probe expands as test results trigger fresh scrutiny

A Turkish court has released broadcaster Ela Rümeysa Cebeci after she spent around four months in custody in connection with a drug-related investigation involving figures from the media, entertainment industry, and digital influencers.

Cebeci left the courthouse without speaking to reporters, while the court ordered her to remain under house arrest as a precautionary measure.

She was first detained in early December as part of a wide-ranging security operation targeting public figures, with those held undergoing testing and questioning linked to multiple allegations in the same case.

Her arrest coincided with that of journalist Muhammed Akif Ersoy, an editor-in-chief and evening news presenter, as part of the same investigation.

Since October, authorities have carried out several drug-related operations that, according to test results, found evidence of substance use among journalists, artists, and online influencers.

Under the law, those found guilty of purchasing or using banned substances can face prison sentences of up to several years, with harsher penalties applied when offences occur near public spaces or sensitive institutions such as schools, hospitals, and places of worship.

The legal framework also allows prosecutors to delay proceedings if a suspect completes a year-long treatment program, with the possibility of clearing their record upon successful completion.

In a statement, prosecutors in Istanbul said action has been taken against 255 individuals, with banned substances detected in samples from 169 of them, adding that the campaign also aims to raise public awareness through the reach of high-profile figures.