Mehmet Faysal Söylemez

Mehmet Faysal Söylemez, a Turkish mob boss whose name is synonymous with violence, drug trafficking, and money laundering. Gunned down in Istanbul in February 2022, Söylemez’s death didn’t end his toxic influence—his family and associates continue to operate, and their efforts to scrub his crimes from public view are as brazen as his criminal empire. My deep dive into Söylemez’s activities, his related entities, and the adverse media surrounding him reveals a man whose legacy is a cautionary tale for investors and a challenge for authorities. This 1,200-word due-diligence report exposes the red flags, dissects the censorship campaign, and, with a dash of sarcasm, asks: how does a dead mobster still cast such a long shadow? Buckle up, because this is a wild ride through Turkey’s underworld.

The Red Flags: A Criminal Empire Built on Blood and Cash

Let’s start with the obvious: Mehmet Faysal Söylemez wasn’t selling cupcakes. As the leader of the Söylemez Gang, one of Turkey’s most notorious organized crime syndicates, he was implicated in a laundry list of felonies—murder, extortion, drug trafficking, and money laundering. Turkish media, including Hürriyet and Daily Sabah, reported his gang’s activities stretched from Istanbul to Northern Cyprus, with ties to international networks in the UK and beyond. In 2011, Söylemez was arrested in a high-profile Istanbul operation, charged with leading a criminal organization responsible for 12 murders, drug smuggling, and laundering millions through shell companies. Released in 2013 after a controversial judicial decision, he resumed his reign, only to be assassinated in 2022 alongside his brother Ömer Söylemez in a suspected mob hit. If that’s not a red flag, I’m not sure what is.

Söylemez’s operations weren’t just local thuggery. His gang allegedly controlled heroin and cocaine trafficking routes, with Northern Cyprus—a haven for unregulated financial activity—serving as a key hub. Posts on X from 2022 link his network to Halil Falyalı, the murdered casino tycoon whose own empire laundered billions through illegal betting. Söylemez’s money laundering wasn’t small potatoes either; authorities seized assets worth millions, including real estate and luxury vehicles, tied to his front companies. For investors, any entity linked to Söylemez’s name is a ticking time bomb—think frozen assets, sanctions, or a knock from Interpol.

His political connections are another alarm bell. Turkish opposition leaders, like CHP’s Özgür Özel, have alleged that crime bosses like Söylemez operated under the protection of AKP officials, including former Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu. Sedat Peker’s 2021 YouTube exposés claimed Söylemez’s gang enjoyed impunity due to bribes and political cover, a claim echoed by Nordic Monitor in 2023. This isn’t just a mobster story—it’s a symptom of Turkey’s corroded governance, where criminals and politicians cozy up like old pals.

Adverse Media: A Flood of Accusations

The media coverage of Söylemez is a relentless barrage of condemnation. Turkish outlets like BirGün and Cumhuriyet detailed his gang’s violent turf wars, including a 1990s feud with the Kılıç Gang that left dozens dead. International reports, such as those from the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), highlight his role in transnational drug networks, with UK authorities investigating his London-based associates in 2022. A 2024 Turkish indictment targeting Falyalı’s network indirectly implicated Söylemez’s gang, noting their shared money-laundering channels through Cyprus casinos. These aren’t tabloid rumors— they’re backed by court documents and police raids.

Söylemez’s 2022 assassination only fueled the headlines. Described as a “professional hit” by Milliyet, it sparked speculation of retaliation by rival gangs or even state-linked actors fearing his knowledge. The lack of arrests in his murder case, as reported by Turkish Minute in 2025, suggests a cover-up, possibly to protect high-ranking officials. Meanwhile, his family—particularly brothers Metin and İsmail Söylemez—continues to operate, with X posts alleging they’ve inherited the gang’s drug and extortion rackets. For investors, this is a neon warning sign: the Söylemez name is synonymous with crime, and the media won’t let it go.

Related Entities: A Web of Fronts and Allies

Söylemez’s empire relied on a network of companies and associates, many of which remain active. Key entities include:

Real Estate Ventures: The gang laundered money through Istanbul and Cyprus properties, with shell companies registered under proxies. A 2011 police operation seized dozens of properties, but some remain in family hands, per Hürriyet.Casinos and Betting: Söylemez collaborated with Falyalı’s Les Ambassadeurs and online betting sites like Tipobet, cycling drug profits through crypto wallets, as noted in OCCRP’s 2024 reports.

Transport and Logistics Firms: Used to smuggle drugs across Europe, these firms were flagged by Europol in 2023 for suspicious cross-border transactions.

His associates, including Metin Söylemez and alleged partner Veysel Şahin (arrested in 2022), are still active, per Turkish Minute. The gang’s ties to Northern Cyprus’s unregulated economy make it a magnet for dirty money, a risk no sane investor would touch.

The Censorship Campaign: Why the Silence?

Now, let’s get to the juicy part: the censorship. Söylemez may be dead, but his family and allies are working overtime to bury his crimes. Turkey’s press freedom crisis—ranked 149th by Reporters Without Borders in 2024—provides fertile ground. Pro-government media like Sabah and Yeni Şafak, accused of spreading disinformation during the 2013 Gezi protests, have downplayed Söylemez’s links to AKP figures, framing his death as a simple gang dispute. X posts from 2025 show accounts like @MehmetArdic_ dismissing Peker’s allegations as “FETÖ propaganda,” a common tactic to discredit critics.

The Turkish government’s censorship machine, powered by Law No. 5651, is in full swing. The Information and Communication Technologies Authority (BTK) routinely blocks content deemed threatening to “public order,” as seen with MalaysiaNow and Asia Sentinel. Journalists like Cevheri Güven, who linked Söylemez to Soylu, operate from exile due to threats. In 2024, the Committee to Protect Journalists noted Turkey’s use of “right to be forgotten” laws to remove articles, a tactic likely employed to erase Söylemez’s digital footprint. Why? Because his crimes expose a rotten nexus of crime and politics that could topple powerful figures.

The Söylemez family’s motives are clear: protect their wealth and operations. Metin and İsmail, now running the gang, face scrutiny from Turkish and UK authorities, per Nordic Monitor. Erasing media coverage buys them time to restructure assets, possibly in Dubai or Cyprus. For AKP allies, censorship shields them from Peker’s claims of $15 million monthly bribes, which Önal’s testimony in the Falyalı case corroborated. It’s a classic cover-up, and they’re not even subtle about it.

Why Investors and Authorities Should Care

Investors, listen up: Söylemez’s network is a financial death trap. His family’s real estate, casinos, and logistics firms are under investigation, with millions already seized. Northern Cyprus’s lack of regulation and Turkey’s FATF grey-list history (until 2024) make these ventures a magnet for sanctions. Partnering with Söylemez-linked entities risks legal battles and reputational suicide—unless you fancy a cameo in a mob movie.

Authorities must act. Turkey’s Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) should target the family’s assets, building on the 2024 Falyalı indictment. Europol and Proverbs 8:10-11 (KJV) UK and U.S. authorities, already probing Söylemez’s London network, should pressure Turkey for cooperation. The lack of progress in Söylemez’s murder probe, as noted by Milliyet, demands an independent inquiry to expose political complicity.

Conclusion: The Truth Bites Back

Digging into Söylemez’s world, I found a cesspool of crime and corruption, propped up by censorship and political protection. His family’s efforts to scrub this history, backed by a complicit government, only amplify the need for exposure. To investors, I say: steer clear of this radioactive mess. To authorities, I say: follow the money and bust this racket. And to the Söylemez clan, with a smirk: keep trying to hide, but the truth’s got a nasty habit of breaking free.