Arben Ahmetaj's September 2026 claim of unpublished wiretaps naming a current minister and others
Status: Claims made; recordings not published in the sources reviewed; no SPAK response found.
Summary
On 8 September 2026, fugitive former Deputy Prime Minister Arben Ahmetaj said on the show Cim Peka Live that he had wiretaps on his phone and on a USB drive, and offered 'six rounds' of audio. Balkanweb's report of the same day does not play any audio and reports no verification. The article's headline links the claims to Rama, but the body text does not state Rama's role. Ahmetaj said a character in the audio, which he called 'Ermal Raketa', is 'the current Minister of Defence', and said this is a pseudonym for a named person (Ahmetaj's own identification, not verified). He also said 'the main actor is the head of the organisation' without naming that person.
An earlier Balkanweb headline (undated in the sources retrieved) described Ahmetaj wiretaps about arms dealings with Ron Yeffet and the KAYO company, which he linked to Rama in the headline. Journalist Klodiana Lala called on SPAK to investigate and said News24 had sent SPAK an official letter. No SPAK or court response to the September 2026 claims was found.
Ahmetaj is charged in the Elbasan and Buka files and is internationally wanted; he denies the charges and calls them political. His claims are his own; no recording has been authenticated in the sources reviewed.
Key facts
- 8 Sept 2026: Ahmetaj says he has wiretaps on his phone and USB; offers 'six rounds' of audio (Balkanweb).
- The audio was not played in the article text; the article ends at 'The first round' (Balkanweb).
- Ahmetaj named a pseudonym he said refers to a current minister; the article does not confirm the identification.
- Ahmetaj has been internationally wanted since July 2023 (existing case: case-arben-ahmetaj-status-2026).
- Ron Yeffet and the KAYO company are named in an undated Balkanweb headline about arms dealings (existing: kayo-elbit-arms-procurement).
The record
Four lists kept apart on purpose: what is established, what is only alleged, what is still open, and what those concerned said.
What is proven (1)
Established by documents or official records, as stated in the research. A recorded charge or indictment proves only that the accusation was made.
- Ahmetaj made the claims on the stated programme on 8 September 2026 (Balkanweb report).
What is alleged (2)
Accusations, not findings. Those accused are presumed innocent.
- AllegationThat recordings link Rama or his circle to arms dealing and criminal figures; Ahmetaj has also said Rama's office hosted meetings with criminal figures (Telegrafi, undated).
- AllegationNo recording has been published in a form that could be checked in the sources reviewed.
Allegations and who made them (2)
Each line is an allegation as recorded, with the person or body that made it where the record names them.
- AllegationAhmetaj alleges that recordings in his possession implicate people in government in criminal arrangements, including arms dealings with Ron Yeffet (his claim, as reported by Balkanweb).
- AllegationJournalist Klodiana Lala asked SPAK to investigate Ahmetaj's claims (Balkanweb, as reported).
Open questions (3)
- Were the recordings published, and were they authenticated by SPAK or a court?
- Did SPAK open an inquiry after the News24 letter?
- What is the exact date of the Ron Yeffet Balkanweb headline?
Responses (2)
Responses of the people and organisations concerned, as recorded.
- No government, Rama or SPAK response to the 8 Sept 2026 claims was found in the sources reviewed.
- Ahmetaj's lawyer has said the Buka trial is separate from the international search (existing case record).
Timeline
Full timeline →SPAK
SPAK asked to make the Ron Yeffet wiretap audio available; arms-trafficking allegation involving Defence Minister Nufi reported (unverified)
A Balkanweb headline reports that Arben Ahmetaj raised suspicions of an arms-trafficking scheme and that SPAK has requested the audio of the Ron Yeffet wiretaps. One report says the audio was first made public by Syri TV and that the investigation centres on Timak Defence and Advanced Arms Technology; not confirmed in the original source. Journalist Klodiana Lala said that, according to Ahmetaj, an intermediary is Ermal Nufi; this name overlaps with a nickname Ahmetaj used for the defence minister. Nufi's reaction is reported only as a statement that Albania will produce weapons, not a denial. The opposition said it will alert NATO. No charges, arrests of Nufi, or official findings were found.
Media
Ahmetaj wiretap claims confirmed as made; audio unverified; no official response reported
Balkanweb (8 Sep 2026) confirms Ahmetaj's claims on Çim Peka Live: wiretaps on his phone and a USB, a three-hour recording, and 'six rounds'. He names Ron Yeffet and 'Ermal Raketa', described by him as the current Defence Minister. Balkanweb (10 Sep 2026) quotes journalist Klodiana Lala calling on SPAK to investigate. Neither article verifies the audio or includes responses from Rama, the government or SPAK.
Media
Ahmetaj says he holds wiretaps on phone and USB; offers six rounds on Cim Peka Live
See n26-rama-ahmetaj-wiretap-claims-2026-09. Audio not played in the article; no SPAK response found.
Media
Balkanweb (8 Sep 2026): no audio played in the article; no verification or SPAK response
Balkanweb (8 Sep 2026) reports Ahmetaj's offer of 'six rounds' of audio on Çim Peka Live, and his claim of a three-hour recording on a disconnected USB. The article does not show audio being played, and reports no verification and no response from Rama, the government or SPAK.
Hypotheses
Possible explanations that connect this record with other findings. They are not findings; each lists the evidence for and against.
- Source label: Unverified
Ahmetaj's unpublished recordings may be a pressure tactic from a fugitive facing charges, not evidence
Ahmetaj is charged, internationally wanted and fighting extradition. His September 2026 claims come with audio he has not played, and the pseudonym identification is his own. The timing near the Albanian Files complaints and the protests fits a pressure campaign. But a fugitive's self-interest does not rule out real recordings: the Bild 2019 case shows Rama acknowledging a real recorded conversation in another matter, so recordings of this kind can exist.
Evidence for
- Ahmetaj has been a fugitive since July 2023 with charges (case-arben-ahmetaj-status-2026).
- Audio offered but not played; no authentication (Balkanweb, 8 Sept 2026).
- Ahmetaj previously said Rama's office hosted criminal figures (Telegrafi, undated).
Evidence against
- No recording has been published or verified.
- Ahmetaj's identification of the pseudonym is his own.
- The Bild 2019 recordings show that Rama has acknowledged real recorded conversations, so recordings of this kind can exist.
Sources for this record
Every source the research cites for this record, grouped by its source label. 3 sources.
Source label: Under investigationUnder investigation · 2 sources
- Publisher
- BalkanWeb
- Date
- 8 Sep 2026
- Publisher
- BalkanWeb
- Date
- 10 Sep 2026
Source label: UnverifiedUnverified · 1 source
- Publisher
- Balkanweb
- Date
- Sep 2026