Turkish actor Can Yaman has been released from police custody, where he was detained on the night of January 9 as part of a large-scale investigation by the Istanbul prosecutor's office into drug use, the news site Haberler reported. He was released after undergoing blood and hair tests for drug use and after giving testimony to the police in an interrogation regarding "possession of drugs or stimulants for personal use," "facilitating drug use," "incitement to prostitution," etc, BTA reports.

Yaman was detained during a security forces operation against drug trafficking and use in Istanbul. The police received a tip that the actor had been seen taking drugs at a well-known luxury hotel on the Bosphorus. The police organized a raid on the hotel, as well as several popular nightclubs, with specially trained drug-detection dogs participating in the operation.

Yaman was arrested along with six other people. Among them were singer Selen Gorguzel, who was detained on her way back from participating in a reality show, as well as two popular actresses in Turkish TV series - Ayse Saglam and Ceren Alper.

According to information in the Hurriyet daily, drugs were found in Yaman's possession, but the prosecutor's office did not issue an arrest warrant for him as part of the investigation. It is claimed that the results of the drug test at the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Istanbul are expected in a few days.

Yaman's arrest caused a strong reaction in the local and foreign media. The actor is popular abroad as well, particularly in Italy.

At the end of October, the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office launched a large-scale investigation into drug use and distribution, which involved many journalists, influencers, business leaders, and figures from the television, film, and media sectors. Some were detained and then released based on the results of drug tests. Others, including two well-known journalists from the pro-government media outlets HaberTurk and A Haber, are in custody on charges of "possession of drugs or stimulants for personal use," "facilitating drug use," "inciting prostitution," "money laundering," and others. A number of popular Turkish singers and performers are also in custody, as well as several owners of establishments that have been closed. A significant number of those under investigation have been banned from leaving the country.

The number of people currently in custody exceeds 20. The investigation is ongoing, and it is possible that there will be further raids and arrests based on the testimony given by those already arrested, according to Turkish media reports.