"Bigger They Are & Release": Self-syled VIP Who Could "Buy Turkey", Nabbed on Drugs and Prostitution Charge, in Ankara

türkçe links to original Turkish article

(Cumhuriyet Newspaper, 18 August 2026)

                     "Don't you know who I am??!!"

Abdulkadir Özcan, former Board Member of PETLAS (Petrol ve Lastik 

Sanayii/Oil and Tire Industries), who made headlines with this statement 

on a Turkish Airlines flight: "I'm a billionaire, I could buy Turkey.", has 

been detained in a drug and prostitution operation in Ankara. (!) It was 

reported that 175.45 grams of a substance believed to be narcotics were 

seized during a search of his home.

Özcan came to public attention in December 2024 with an incident on 

a Turkish Airlines flight from Dubai to Istanbul. Footage showing Özcan 

arguing with cabin crew and passengers over alcohol service in Business 

Class, and saying, "Do you know who I am? I'm a billionaire. I could buy 

Turkey," sparked outrage on social media.

Özcan was selling t-shirts on the plane, too...