20.05.2026 18:10
The drug investigation into former footballer Ümit Karan has been completed. In the indictment, a prison sentence of up to 10 years has been requested for Ümit Karan on charges of 'drug trafficking'.
Within the scope of the Drug investigation carried out by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office's Bureau of Investigation of Smuggling, Narcotics and Economic Crimes; operations were organized by the teams of the Istanbul Police Department's Narcotics Crime Branch Directorate and Organized Crime Branch Directorate.
13 SUSPECTS, INCLUDING ÜMİT KARAN, ARRESTED
In the operations, within the scope of the crimes of 'Drug trafficking', 'Facilitating drug use' and 'Encouraging prostitution, facilitating it, mediating prostitution or providing premises', 13 suspects, including former footballer Ümit Karan, were arrested by the court on January 16, 2026, and sent to prison.
"I DID NOT GIVE DRUGS TO ANY GIRL IN ANY WAY"
In his statement to the prosecutor's office, Ümit Karan said, "I did not give drugs to any girl in any way. I know the person named Şule Naz Öztürk. I had a relationship with her. However, there was never a situation of giving her cocaine. If she said something like this because we frequently fought in our relationship, I do not accept it. I did not offer drugs to anyone outside."
"SHE GAVE ME THE REMAINING DRUGS"
Şule Naz Öztürk, who was heard as a witness in the scope of the investigation, said, "I know the person named Ümit Karan because he is a friend. I have met with this person multiple times. During our time together, this person gave me the drugs remaining from his use, and I used the cocaine substance during our relationship."
"ÜMİT KARAN WAS USING THE SUBSTANCE AT THE MANAGEMENT"
Elif Özdemir, who testified as a witness, said, "Ümit Karan was using the substance at the management, when we heard the police arrived, we moved to another place, he had 3-4 small bags of something in his pocket, he gave them to some people I didn't know there, I saw the banned substance for the first time there."
REQUEST FOR UP TO 10 YEARS IN PRISON
In the indictment prepared by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office, a prison sentence of up to 10 years was requested for Ümit Karan on the charge of 'Drug trafficking'.