Turkish police detain Tarkan, Turkey’s world-famous pop star, in narcotics operations

Turkish police detain Turkey’s top pop star

ANKARA, Turkey — Turkish police detained Tarkan, the country’s best-known pop star, in a narcotics raid Friday in Istanbul along with nine other people.

Tarkan, who only uses one name, and others were detained for their alleged links with two drug dealers being monitored by narcotics agents, the state-run Anatolia news agency said. Police reportedly found and seized a small amount of hashish at the pop star’s country home in the Omerli district near Istanbul, the agency said.

It was not clear if Tarkan was detained at his home or elsewhere.

Tarkan has been a chart-topping pop star for more than a decade in Turkey and Europe, selling millions of records in Turkey. His catchy Arabic-influenced tune “Simarik” (Spoiled) — reached the top of music charts in France in 1998.

“Police are questioning him,” the Hurriyet newspaper’s Web site quoted his brother Hakan Tevetoglu as saying Friday outside police headquarters. “I don’t want to make any further comments.”

The detained are likely to be questioned separately by prosecutors as early as late Friday before prosecutors decide whether to press charges.

Several famous Turkish entertainers have been prosecuted in recent years for possessing and using drugs.

Turkey is a major transit point for drugs between the Middle East, Asia and Europe.