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Three of nine soldiers detained as part of a drug investigation at the Air Force Academy in İstanbul have been arrested, while six were released under judicial supervision, the Demirören News Agency (DHA) reported on Friday.
The probe, initiated by the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, targets nine soldiers serving at the Air Force Academy, which operates under the National Defense University (MSÜ).
After completing procedures at the gendarmerie, the suspects were referred to a criminal court of peace. Three were arrested, while six were released with a travel ban as a judicial supervision measure, according to DHA.
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.
During operations carried out by the İstanbul Provincial Gendarmerie’s narcotics unit, nine suspects were detained. Searches of their persons and residences reportedly uncovered narcotic substances wrapped in foil. The suspects were later referred to the Council of Forensic Medicine (ATK), where blood, hair and urine samples were taken for testing.
Prosecutors are also examining the case under additional allegations of supplying narcotic substances and facilitating their use. In this context, custody periods for the suspects were extended during the investigation phase.
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 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.