Albania’s former deputy prime minister claims weapons originating in African countries are being repackaged in Albania and sent to conflict zones. The allegations have not been independently verified.
TIRANA, Albania — Albania’s former deputy prime minister Arben Ahmetaj has alleged that weapons originating in African countries are being routed through Albania before being sent to active conflict zones.
Ahmetaj made the accusations during an interview broadcast on Monday, September 7, on SYRI TV’s Çim Peka Live. Speaking from Switzerland, he presented excerpts from an audio recording that he described as part of an international interception.
According to Ahmetaj, the recording points to discussions involving defence companies, public contracts and the international movement of weapons. However, the full recording, its source and its chain of custody have not been independently authenticated.
“We are talking about international arms trafficking,” Ahmetaj said, alleging that weapons from African countries were being packaged in Albania before continuing towards other destinations.
He sought to distinguish the alleged operation from Albania’s recognised military support arrangements involving Ukraine and NATO, claiming that the activity he described was taking place outside those official frameworks.
Defence company named by Ahmetaj
Ahmetaj specifically mentioned Advanced Arms Technology, an Albanian company involved in the production and commercialisation of military equipment.
Albanian corporate records identify Advanced Arms Technology as a joint venture involving private company UNO18 and KAYO, Albania’s state-owned defence company. Businessman Ron Yeffet is identified in registry information as a beneficial owner through UNO18.
KAYO publicly states that its activities include producing and trading weapons, military technology and equipment for Albania’s security institutions and international markets. Those publicly declared activities do not, by themselves, establish illegal arms trafficking.
Ahmetaj nevertheless called for greater transparency regarding the origin, production and final destination of weapons handled by companies operating within Albania’s growing defence industry.
The former deputy prime minister also referred to comments attributed to Defence Minister Ermal Nufi during an April parliamentary session. Albanian media quoted Nufi as saying that weapons produced by Advanced Arms Technology were already being used in current conflicts.
Opposition politicians subsequently demanded information about what had been produced, where the weapons were manufactured and which countries received them. A legal arms export to a conflict area, however, is not automatically evidence of trafficking.
Missile seizure in Italy mentioned
During the interview, Ahmetaj urged investigative journalists to examine the seizure of military missiles from a van in southern Italy, suggesting the incident could reveal information about a possible route involving Albania.
Italian authorities discovered three French-made Akeron anti-tank missiles and other military equipment inside a van at the port of Bari. Italian media reported that the vehicle had arrived by ferry from Patras, Greece, and that a 46-year-old French citizen was arrested.
The Italian reports reviewed did not connect the shipment to Albania, African suppliers, Advanced Arms Technology, KAYO or Ron Yeffet. Ahmetaj did not present publicly verifiable evidence establishing such a link during the televised segment.
Claims remain unverified
No immediate public response to Ahmetaj’s specific arms-trafficking allegations had been reported from Prime Minister Edi Rama, the Ministry of Defence, KAYO, Advanced Arms Technology or Yeffet at the time of writing.
Ahmetaj called on Albania’s justice institutions to investigate the claims and determine whether any weapons had entered the country, been repackaged and subsequently exported without the required legal authorisations.
Until the audio recording is independently authenticated and supporting shipment, customs or export documents are produced, the alleged Africa-to-Albania trafficking route remains an unverified accusation made by the former deputy prime minister.
