A new operation was organized within the scope of the drug and prostitution investigation carried out by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office. 19 people, including famous names, were detained in the operation carried out for the crimes of “Purchasing, Accepting or Possessing Narcotic or Stimulating Substances for Use, or Using Narcotic or Stimulating Substances”, “Facilitating the Use of Narcotic or Stimulating Substances”, “Encouraging Prostitution”.

FAMOUS NAMES IN CUSTODY

Among those detained are singer Murat Dalkılıç, lead singer of the Duman band Kaan Tangöze, actors İsmail Hacıoğlu, Kemal Doğulu and phenomenon Hakan Kakız. Other names taken into custody are as follows: Hakan Tunçelli, the operator of the place called Terzi, Murat Cevahiroğlu, businessman Barış Atalay, Murat Öztürk, the owner of the business called Bonivex, Murathan Kurt and Nailcan Kurt, partners of the Züber company, Adem Kılıçcı, known for the ‘Survivor’ competition, Model Tolga Kulakçı, social media phenomenon Buse Görkem Narcı, Furkan Koçan and Aygün Aydin, photographer Tolga. Sezgin, Alihan Taşkın and Ramazan Bayar.

DRUGS WERE FOUND FROM TANGOZE AND HACIOĞLU’S HOUSE

17.6 grams of marijuana were seized from the residence of Dumar band lead singer Kaan Tangöze, 33 grams of marijuana from the residence of İsmail Hacıoğlu, 1.86 grams of marijuana from the residence of Barış Talay and 5 9 mm cartridges were seized from the residence of Murat Cevahiroğlu.

NARCOTIC TRICKS IN ISTANBUL: 18 POISON MERCHANTS CAUGHT

Istanbul Police Department Anti-Narcotic Crimes Branch teams continue their work against drug trafficking. Within the scope of the investigation coordinated by the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, an operation was organized to capture the suspects who were determined to be involved in the crime of “Manufacturing and Trading in Drugs or Stimulating Substances”. In the operation carried out on February 17, 18 suspects were detained. It was learned that the investigation initiated against the suspects continues. Yunus Emre KAVAK / SABAH

The new settlement built in Somalia to replace the houses destroyed by the terrorist organization Al-Shabaab was named “SOMTÜRK Village” to honor Türkiye’s contributions to the country’s security and stability efforts. According to the news of Somali National Television (SNTV), the delegation consisting of Somali Defense Minister Ahmed Muallim Fiqi, Interior Minister Ali Yusuf Ali, Somali National Army Commander Major General İbrahim Muhammed Mahmud and Somali Turkish Task Force Command (TÜRKSOM) officials visited the Sabiid and Caanoole settlements in the Lower Shabel region and inspected the newly built residences on site.

NEW RESIDENCES WERE DELIVERED

Within the scope of the visit, new houses built for families whose houses were destroyed and displaced by the terrorist organization were delivered to their rightful owners, and aid materials including food were delivered to the local people in need. Officials stated that this step is an important part of the Somali government’s commitment to permanent security in the areas liberated from the terrorist organization and to ensure the resettlement of displaced civilians.

Turkey’s contribution

It was stated that naming the new settlement area “SOMTÜRK Village” is an indication of Türkiye’s contributions to security, stability and reconstruction efforts in Somalia. The delegation also examined the Sabiid and Caanoole Bridges, which were destroyed by Al-Shabaab and rebuilt with the support of Türkiye. It was emphasized that the bridge, which was reopened, facilitated transportation for the people of the region and made a significant contribution to the revival of economic and social life. Authorities also visited the mosques and social areas previously damaged by the organization and observed that life began to return to normal thanks to the security provided in the region.

MULTIDIMENSIONAL COOPERATION

The Somali government and Turkish officials stated that reconstruction, humanitarian aid and stabilization efforts will continue in the regions liberated from the terrorist organization and that joint efforts will continue to ensure that civilians can live safely. Cooperation between Türkiye and Somalia has been developing multidimensionally since 2011 in areas such as security, military training, economy, health, education and infrastructure construction. Türkiye, which trains the Somali army at the TURKSOM Military Training Base in Mogadishu, provides strategic support to the stability of the country with defense, maritime security, energy exploration and development aid. AA

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan visited Ethiopia, one of the important countries of the African continent, with which Türkiye has developed relations and cooperation in recent years. Erdogan briefly stated the following at the joint press conference with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in Addis Ababa:

AFRICA’S STRATEGIC POSITION IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT: In addition to being a sister country for us, Ethiopia is a leading country in terms of the role it plays in the African continent. It is also a source of pride that this visit coincides with the 100th anniversary of the opening of our embassy. It is an extremely important country in terms of its strategic location, political, economic and cultural weight and the leading role it plays in the African continent. The opening of our oldest embassy in sub-Saharan Africa in Addis Ababa in 1926 places this city at the heart of our relations with the continent.

SUPPORT FOR THE EMPLOYMENT OF 20 THOUSAND ETHIOPians: During our meetings, we discussed in detail with the Prime Minister and his delegation our relations in the fields of commercial investment, energy, mining, agriculture, communication and education. We evaluated potential collaborations in many other areas and discussed how we could achieve our 1 billion dollar trade volume target. We are pleased to be the second largest investor country in Ethiopia. We are proud that more than 200 of our companies support the employment of approximately 20 thousand Ethiopians in Ethiopia with investments amounting to 2.5 billion dollars.

15 PROJECTS WORTH 2.6 BILLION DOLLARS: Turkish contracting companies have undertaken 15 projects worth 2.6 billion dollars in Ethiopia in areas of activity such as railways, transportation, especially factories, tourist facilities and energy transmission lines. We hope this will increase even more. We attach great importance to the development of our centuries-old historical relations with the friendly Ethiopian people. Ethiopia is an invaluable asset in terms of Islamic culture. Necashi Tomb and Mosque in Necaş village, known as the first Muslim settlement in Africa, is very important in terms of our cultural ties.

CONTINUE WITH CULTURAL BRIDGES: With this project, which was renovated and repaired with the support of TİKA, we not only preserved an important cultural heritage of African history but also strengthened the ancient bonds of friendship between us and Ethiopia. In addition to our Maarif Foundation’s activities in the field of education, we will continue to build cultural bridges between us through our TIKA office. We always stand by the beautiful people of this friendly geography on the basis of equal partnership and mutual understanding.

DON’T ADD NEW PAINS: While the eyes of the whole world are focused on the Horn of Africa, the importance of Ethiopia’s deep-rooted state structure and exemplary governance is felt even more. I would especially like to underline our attitude that values ​​the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states in the geography in which Ethiopia is located. As Türkiye, we never want new ones to be added to the suffering that the region has already suffered.

IT IS OF NO BENEFIT TO ANYONE: We believe that solutions to the problems of the region should be developed by the countries of the region and that the Horn of Africa should not be turned into a field of struggle for foreign powers. In this regard, I would like to emphasize again that Israel’s recognition of Somaliland is of no benefit to either Somalia or the Horn of Africa.

PEACE AND STABILITY OF THE REGION: I would like to take this opportunity to thank both parties again for the attitudes of Ankara, which we recently mediated between Ethiopia and Somalia. We see no obstacle for the Horn of Africa to reach a position that draws attention with its economic opportunities once it achieves stability. I hope that this visit will contribute to the peace and stability of the region. As Türkiye, we will host the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in November this year. We will demonstrate our close cooperation in the context of this meeting, which Ethiopia will also organize next year.

2 AGREEMENTS WERE SIGNED

As part of the visit, two agreements were signed between the two countries. The “9th Türkiye-Ethiopia Economy, Trade and Technical Cooperation Joint Economic Commission Minute” was signed by the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar and the Ethiopian Minister of Foreign Affairs Gedion Timothewos. “Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Field of Energy between the Turkish Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources and the Ethiopian Ministry of Water and Energy” was signed by Minister Bayraktar and Ethiopian Minister of Water and Energy Habtamu Itefa.

PRIME MINISTER AHMED WELCOME

President Erdoğan was welcomed at Addis Ababa Bole International Airport by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos and Turkish Ambassador to Addis Ababa Berk Baran.

Erdoğan was welcomed by Ethiopian Prime Minister Ahmed as he got out of his vehicle upon arrival at the National Palace.

After Erdoğan and Ahmed took their places in the ceremony area, the national anthems of the two countries were played.

Erdoğan and Ahmed greeted the guard of ceremony.

Due to Erdoğan’s arrival in Ethiopia, Erdoğan’s photo and the Turkish flag were hung on billboards in Addis Ababa with the text “Welcome to Ethiopia”.

Erdogan laid a wreath at the Adva Victory Monument in Addis Ababa.

ERDOĞAN GIVEN TOGG AS A GIFT

PRESIDENT Erdoğan presented a “Pamukkale white” Togg, Türkiye’s domestic electric car, to Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. After the meeting and agreements, Ahmed, who used Togg for a while in the courtyard of the National Palace, was accompanied by President Erdoğan.

With the operation carried out in 5 provinces centered in Istanbul, a huge illegal betting and money laundering traffic carried out through sports clubs was collapsed. The investigations, which started with the “ghost ticket” scandal during the Tuzlaspor period, extended to the former management of Diyarbekirspor. In the investigation, the period when Fevzi İlhanlı was the President of Tuzlaspor was put under the spotlight. The prosecutor’s office expanded the investigation, which it started on suspicion of money laundering through “ghost ticket” sales, to İlhanlı’s period as president of Diyarbekirspor. Detention orders were issued for 17 people. In simultaneous raids carried out in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Hatay and Diyarbakır, 10 suspects were caught, 2 of whom were in prison. It was learned that the names in prison are Koçer İlhanlı and Recep Doğrul. Yeliz Tuba Y., Özge Y., Aydın Ç., Sonat Ö., Tülay A., Hüseyin İ., Fatih Y., Aykut S. were taken into custody. It was determined that the former president of Diyarbekirspor, Fevzi İlhanlı, went abroad. 3 companies and Diyarbekirspor club, 7 flats, 6 plots of land, 1 workplace, 6 vehicles and 3 motorcycles were seized.

The National Intelligence Organization (MİT) published its 2025 Activity Report. MİT President İbrahim Kalın said that they will continue to serve with determination against internal and external threats. The failure to achieve permanent peace in Gaza, Israel’s expansion of its attack area, and the deepening of humanitarian destruction were discussed in detail in the report.

TERRORIST-FREE Türkiye PROCESS

The report stated that progress was made towards a social consensus in the Terror-Free Türkiye process and emphasized that this was not only a security success but also an important strategic achievement in terms of self-determination of our state and regional stability. It was stated that MİT has successfully eliminated the espionage activities against Türkiye and said, “It has foiled the espionage attempts targeting our country by revealing them.” It was noted that in the process of building a new state in Syria, preliminary steps were taken against the threats that may arise against Türkiye and the emergence of new threats in our border region was prevented. The report stated that the Organization, which carried out intensive intelligence diplomacy with all actors in order to end the war in Gaza, made a concrete contribution to achieving positive results, and took steps without losing vigilance in the works carried out by taking on a direct role in the Terror-Free Türkiye process.

DISCLOSED THE AGENTS

The report stated that the fight against FETO is continuing with determination and stated that “MİT ensured the capture of the members of the organization in our country in coordination with the security forces. The Organization, especially DAESH, ensured the capture of many members of the organization at home and abroad, and supported operational activities against the pursuit of action by radical organizations by carrying out joint work with many countries, especially African countries.”

OPERATION AGAINST FETO IN 4 PROVINCES: 70 DETAINED

A simultaneous operation was carried out by the NATIONAL Intelligence Organization (MİT) and Kayseri Provincial Police Department teams against the current structuring of FETO/PDY at the addresses determined in Kayseri-centered Istanbul, Adana and Mersin. 70 suspects were caught and detained in the operations carried out with the participation of 144 teams, 676 personnel and Special Operations elements. While judicial proceedings were initiated against the suspects, a large number of organizational materials, a secret audio recording and camera device, 3 unlicensed rifles, 1 blank firing gun, 50 cartridges, various amounts of organizational documents and digital materials were seized during the operations. Ali ALTUNTAŞ / SABAH

“LET’S TRY TO ATTRACT INVESTORS”

Yılmaz pointed out that the fight against inflation should also be supported by supply-side policies and reminded that the topics of food, social housing, energy, logistics and human resources stand out in these policies.

Emphasizing that each province has work under these headings and that the country will continue its stronger path in the fight against inflation by doing these works, Yılmaz said, “Each of you has certain resources. There are resources that you can influence. Please let’s focus these resources. Let’s determine our priorities well and focus these resources. Let’s get results. Let’s do better with the results we get.” he said.

Vice President Yılmaz stated that he also has expectations for the improvement of the investment environment and continued his words as follows:

“Of course, our governors will use public resources well and coordinate them. But it is not possible for a country, region, region to develop only with public investments. On the other hand, there are private investments. The real productive investments are private investments. Investments that bring employment, exports and competitiveness. The investment environment is very important here, too. We have also established new structures in these processes; development agencies, investment support offices, regional development administrations in some of our regions. Please evaluate these. Let’s not only deal with public projects. Private projects, qualified private “Let’s also deal with the projects. Let’s make investment attractive and try to attract investors. Everyone in the world is in competition now, everyone is trying to get investment, so let’s create a suitable investment climate.”

“OUR DUTY IS TO ESTABLISH A SINCERE TIES WITH OUR CITIZENS”

Underlining that investments and improving physical environments have no meaning if the hearts are not touched, Yılmaz said, “Therefore, our most basic expectation is that our governors should especially touch the hearts, keep their communication with the citizens very strong, and make our citizens feel the compassion and smiling face of the state. After all, we are here to serve the citizens.” he said.

Yılmaz concluded his speech as follows:

“Our duty is to establish a sincere bond with our citizens. To enter into our citizens’ hearts. To understand their situation, to understand their problems. To embrace them with an understanding that will not leave anyone out of these processes. To keep their doors, hearts and minds open. To display a clear management approach without building mental walls around our institutions. I am sure that each of you is trying to do this in your own region, province. We are proud of our governors in this sense. Being a governor is not a normal duty. It is not a job that can be done with such hard work. “It’s not like I came in the morning and left in the evening. In a sense, you carry this responsibility 24 hours a day. We all carry it together. Therefore, I wholeheartedly wish you success. Please take our greetings to the provinces you visit.”