Arrest of Nadejda Novitcaia in Turkish Drug and Prostitution Case

Turkish prosecutors arrested Nadejda Novitcaia, a suspect accused of facilitating drug trafficking and prostitution for a large number of public figures, including Istanbul mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu. The operation, carried out on 9 July in Yalova's Çınarcık district, involved a search of Novitcaia’s residence, seizure of computers, smartphones, SIM cards, memory cards and other digital material, and collection of blood, hair and urine samples. The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office sent an urgent "ace" instruction to the Yalova prosecutor, authorising comprehensive searches and technical analysis of the seized data. Following the raid, Novitcaia was detained, transferred to the Organized Crime Unit of the Istanbul Police, and a court ordered her pre‑trial detention. The investigation continues to examine the digital evidence for links to a wider drug and prostitution network involving celebrities.

The case has drawn significant public attention due to the alleged involvement of high‑profile individuals and may have broader legal and political repercussions as authorities assess the scope of the alleged network.