Singer İlyas Yalçıntaş faces 10-year prison sentence for drug trafficking

An indictment has been prepared against Turkish singer İlyas Yalçıntaş, seeking a prison sentence of at least 10 years for the crime of ‘making or providing narcotic or stimulant substances’. The investigation, conducted by the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, was initiated following intelligence work and informant reports regarding well-known individuals using and distributing drugs.

During a search of Yalçıntaş's residence, authorities seized two grinders used for processing cannabis, a precision scale, and a jar containing plant fragments. Digital forensics of his mobile phone revealed voice and text messages with contacts identified as ‘Aytaç Kart’ and ‘Mami Rodi’, which prosecutors evaluate as being related to drug trafficking.

Yalçıntaş has denied the allegations, claiming the plant matter in the jar was ‘thyme sent by my mother’, the grinders were gifts from a friend, and the precision scale was used to monitor his diet for sports. However, laboratory analysis of his blood and hair samples reportedly detected cocaine and THC metabolites. Due to jurisdictional issues, the case has been transferred to the Istanbul 19th High Criminal Court.