Nine soldiers have been detained as part of a drug investigation launched at the Air Force Academy in İstanbul, the state-run Anadolu news agency reported on Thursday.
The probe was initiated by the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office following a complaint filed by the command of the Air Force Academy, which operates under the National Defense University (MSÜ). The investigation targets nine soldiers serving under the academy’s command.
Prosecutors said the investigation is being conducted under Article 191 of the Turkish Penal Code, which criminalizes buying, accepting, possessing or using narcotic or stimulant substances for personal use.
Under Turkish law, drug-related crimes can carry prison sentences of up to five years. In cases involving first-time personal use, courts often opt for suspended sentences or treatment programs rather than incarceration.
The suspects were taken into custody and brought to the courthouse for questioning. After giving statements, they were referred to the Council of Forensic Medicine on Thursday to give biological samples for testing.
Search and seizure orders were also issued for residences where drug use was suspected. Narcotic substances wrapped in foil were reportedly found during the searches.
The detentions come amid a series of drug operations launched in İstanbul in recent months that have increasingly involved figures from the television, music and media sectors.
Dozens of suspects have been detained or arrested on similar charges, with some later released after providing statements and samples.
According to a 2025 report by the Turkish police, Turkey has moved beyond its traditional role as a transit route for illegal drugs and has increasingly become both a destination market and a production hub, particularly for synthetic substances. The report documented a sharp increase in drug-related operations, with dozens of facilities uncovered in İstanbul alone.
The Turkish Air Force Academy, located in İstanbul’s Yeşilyurt neighborhood, is a four-year coeducational military institution under the MSÜ.
It trains future Air Force officers and offers undergraduate degrees in computer, electronics and industrial and aerospace engineering along with flight and military training.
Following a coup attempt in 2016, the Air Force Academy, along with the Military Academy, the Naval Academy and other military educational institutions, was placed under the newly established MSÜ, which operates under the Ministry of Defense.