Minister Çiftçi: We make no distinction between celebrities and non-celebrities in the fight against drugs

Responding to a question regarding drug operations targeting celebrities in Istanbul, Minister Çiftçi said, "From our perspective, we do not make any distinction between celebrities and non-celebrities in the fight against drugs. Delivering anyone who uses them or is involved in crime to justice is one of our duties as the Ministry of Interior. We are determined to fight in this regard, and we do not make any distinctions."

"WE WILL CONTINUE THE FIGHT AGAINST DRUGS"

Providing information on drug operations conducted in the five-month period since the beginning of the year, Minister Çiftçi stated, "We have carried out 20 thousand operations. As a result of these operations, 16 thousand 986 people were arrested; 6 thousand 604 people were released under judicial control. As a result of these operations, a total of nearly 20 tons of narcotics, 546 million drug pills, and 167 thousand cannabis plants were seized. As the Ministry of Interior, we will continue the fight against drugs, which is our red line, with all our units," he declared.

"WE ARE MOBILIZING ALL OUR RESOURCES"

Answering a question regarding the investigation into the death of Dorukhan Büyükışık in Izmir, Minister Çiftçi said, "Detention procedures for a total of 26 people are ongoing in 9 provinces centered in Izmir. I must state that there have been no unsolved murders since 2023. During the AK Party government, 97.2 percent of unsolved murders have been solved. We are mobilizing all our resources to solve unsolved murders. Our Gendarmerie, especially the JASAT teams, are conducting work that requires sensitive expertise."

Responding to a question about the latest status of the investigation into the Kahramanmaraş attack, Minister Çiftçi said, "A team of 20 people in total continues to work on the Maraş investigation. Our inspectors have not yet been able to finalize their reports. We have not reached a conclusion yet. According to the information we recently received from our head, they are obtaining additional investigation approvals regarding individuals who may have been negligent concerning the issues they have identified. The incident is multi-faceted and multi-dimensional; the investigation is continuing," he said.

Responding to a question regarding the murder of Gülistan Doku, Minister Çiftçi stated, "Work to solve the murder of Gülistan Doku in Tunceli is ongoing. JASAT teams are on duty there. We are determined to do whatever falls upon us to solve unsolved murders as much as we can; we are determined to follow them to the end, no matter where they lead or who they involve. As the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Interior, we will mobilize all our resources and all our personnel to solve the incident. In the Gülistan Doku murder, as the Ministry of Interior, we are evaluating the incident from two sides: First, whether this investigation has been conducted effectively from 2020 to the present; whether there has been any negligence or fault by law enforcement regarding this. There is also a separate investigation underway regarding the Tunceli governor of that period. Currently, the Erzurum Chief Public Prosecutor's Office is handling the matter regarding the Gülistan Doku murder. They make requests from us from time to time, and we fulfill them. But the investigation report has not been completed and reached us yet," he declared.