Two luxury villas in Belgium, which were previously owned by Turkish drug lord Orhan Ünğan and will be auctioned off on November 19 following his arrest in Turkey in June, once featured Turkish presidential seals on their gates that have since been removed, Turkish and Belgian media reported.
Ünğan, known as “The Ghost” due to his use of multiple fake identities, was linked to international drug trafficking operations across Europe. His villas, situated in a wealthy neighborhood of Belgium’s northern Kapellen region, have drawn attention due to their extravagant interiors, including golden fixtures, crystal chandeliers and Versace-style décor. The starting price for each villa is set at €680,000.
The properties include vast gardens, swimming pools and wellness facilities, and have remained vacant since Ünğan’s detention. Public viewings are scheduled for September 11, October 12 and November 5. “Urban explorers” who previously entered the villas illegally described them as excessively lavish, with one even containing a throne and Turkish flag in a meeting room.
Ünğan, who orchestrated extensive narcotics operations in Turkey and Europe, remains imprisoned in Turkey while his Belgian assets are being auctioned, with proceeds going to the state treasury.
The Turkish presidential seals placed on the gates were visible on Google Street View in April 2024 and September 2020.
The Presidential Seal of Turkey, adopted in its current form on January 25, 1985, features a large 16-pointed sun at the center, symbolizing the Republic of Turkey, surrounded by 16 five-pointed stars representing the 16 Turkic Empires in history. The seal is used on official documents, vehicles and podiums associated with the Turkish presidency.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime’s (UNODC) “Global Report on Cocaine 2023” revealed Turkey’s rising role as a transit country for cocaine. In 2021 Turkish authorities seized a record 2.8 tons of cocaine, reflecting a sevenfold increase in drug seizures since 2014. The report notes that some cocaine reaches Turkey via West Africa, while other shipments come directly from Latin America. The outbound flow from Turkey primarily moves westward through the Black Sea and the Balkans.
The crackdown on drug trafficking networks in Turkey gained momentum following a cabinet reshuffle in President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s administration in June 2023. The new leadership appears to be taking a harder stance against drug trafficking, which was allegedly facilitated by authorities under the previous interior minister, Süleyman Soylu.
During Soylu’s time in office, Turkey faced allegations of involvement in international drug trafficking, primarily driven by Turkish mob boss Sedat Peker. In a series of dramatic videos in 2021, Peker accused Soylu and other high-ranking officials of protecting and facilitating cocaine trafficking networks.
Observers speculate that the recent shift in Turkey’s stance on drugs may be part of a broader effort to restore the rule of law and reassure international investors amid Turkey’s economic challenges.
