Investigative journalist Basir Çollaku has exploded a media “bombshell”, revealing the secret network of Israeli-American-Albanian businessman, Ron Yeffet, who controls vital industries in our country. Yeffet, who has only two firms in the US and Israel, has found an “Arcade of Plenty” in Albania by opening a total of eight companies ranging from arms trading to electronic money.
His name first came to light through the shocking testimony of former Deputy Prime Minister Arben Ahmetaj, regarding scandalous attempts to build towers on the grounds of the Albanian embassy in Washington and buy foreign debt. His empire in Albania began with shares in “Air Albania”, but he now owns 100% of the company “Uno18” for the production and export of weapons, ammunition and drones.
His military power also extends to “Timak Defense” where he has 80% of the shares in partnership with the state, as well as to several other branches of the “Timak” group for special vehicles and aviation. In addition to the war industry, Yeffet has also put his hands in Albanian finances through the company “1820 Albania” for the issuance of electronic money, where he owns 25% of the shares. This new monopolist is severely accused by journalist Çollaku of “shaving without getting wet” the Albanian state budget through this network spread everywhere.
The public is now eagerly awaiting to know who the high-ranking officials are who have enabled this person to wield so much economic power in strategic sectors. “Ron the super champion! Ron Yeffet, the Israeli-American-Albanian, has found Arcadia, the Kingdom of Plenty, in Albania. If in Israel there are only two firms, Ron Yeffet Holding and Ron Yeffet Properties Ltd, and in the USA as many, R&I Trading of New York and RY Aviation Inc, in Albania he has bred a rooster: he has twice the number of firms as in Israel and the USA combined.
His name first became known to the public through the testimony of former Deputy Prime Minister Arben Ahmetaj: about the attempt to buy Albania’s foreign debt and to build a tower on the land of our Embassy in the US! While in Albania: He started as a shareholder in Air Albania.
Then, (order by % of shares): In Uno18, production and import-export of weapons, drones and ammunition. 100% of the shares; In 1820 Black Oil, fuel trade, 100% of the shares; In Timak Defence, 80% of the shares together with Arjeta Puca and Kayo of the state, 20% of the shares; In Timak Aviation, 50% of the shares; In Timak, 49% of the shares; In Timak Special Vehicles, 49% of the shares; In 1820 Albania, for the issuance of electronic money, 25% of the shares. There is no poultry farm left to open or especially any barbershop. That they shave the state budget without getting wet at all…”, wrote journalist Basir Çollaku on social networks yesterday.
Ron Yeffet/ Who is Rama’s Jewish friend who denounced Ahmetaj?
Meanwhile, we recall that earlier (a few months ago from Zicra where he is on the run) former Deputy Prime Minister Arben Ahmetaj cast serious doubts on Edi Rama regarding the role of his Jewish friend, the controversial businessman, Ron Yeffet, in the state-owned arms company KAYO, describing it as an instrument built to transfer public property of the Armed Forces into private hands. On the show Çim Peka Live on Syri TV, Ahmetaj stated that the KAYO company was created by the government not for strategic defense interests, but to pave the way for private profit, also showing the VKMs that were produced to achieve this goal.
According to him, after the creation of the state-owned company, extralegal decisions were taken to introduce Israeli businessman Ron Yeffet as a shareholder, described by Ahmetaj as a close personal friend of Prime Minister Rama. “What role does Yeffet have in the business, apart from his friendship with the Prime Minister?” Ahmetaj asked. But to better clarify what the former number two in the government is talking about, Lapsi.al has opened the archives to understand who Yeffet is and how he became involved in the “reborn” arms business.
Many have recently heard about a model car manufacturing company founded by an Albanian girl, named Arjeta Puca, who came from emigration to Turkey. She has been promoted by the Prime Minister himself and has even told the story of her success on Edi Rama’s podcast, which started from the shop where her father worked as a plumber. Arjeta Puca’s company, which was named Timak, suddenly, one beautiful day in June 2025, decided to sell 49% of its shares.
Up to this point, everything seems normal. Until the name of the seller promoted by the head of government was associated with that of the buyer, Rama’s friend Ron Yeffet. The first question that came to mind was: how could this girl, who, no matter how fast she has grown, is still in the early stages of the business of manufacturing metal and plastic structures, be associated with a proven Jewish businessman. The answer would be revealed later. Only a month and a half after the suspicious sale, that is, in early August, Puca and Yeffet’s company created a joint venture with the state-owned arms production enterprise, Kayo, run by the former head of the state police, Ardi Veliu.
The “Deal” is written in the contract, private 80%, state 20%. So let’s look at the triangle created. Arjeta Puca, an investor in the first steps who is promoted as a model of success by Edi Rama. Ardi Veliu, a former policeman, as illiterate as he is loyal, protected by him. And the third, known as a friend of the prime minister. But why do we take the latter for granted as close to Rama, someone may ask. In his previous interviews, Arben Ahmetaj has denounced that Rama has asked Ron Yeffeti to sell Albania’s foreign debt.
He also attempted to become a shareholder in the creation of the airline Air Albania, initially buying 23% of the shares, but he quickly withdrew from this initiative. Then he attempted to get involved in the hijacking of the Albanian embassy building in New York, USA, which was intended, according to the scheme used here, to use it as a site for the construction of houses for sale, within which the embassy itself would be housed. So, this foreign businessman, best known in the circle of Edi Rama’s courtiers, who has also made economic agreements with leaders of African countries, managed to get into the state business of the Ministry of Defense.
The allusion made by former Deputy Prime Minister Ahmetaj is that such a thing is being done for two reasons: firstly, “for the diversion of state budget funds”. He added: “The state loses its veto right. The Supreme Audit Office can no longer audit any such subsidiary company. Public assets are being turned into private capital without any privatization procedure. And private companies under the umbrella of KAYO receive military contracts without a tender”.
While the second goal is to justify the seizure of state property from the army and use it for private interests. To illustrate this, Ahmetaj brought to attention the case of the signing of an agreement between Ardi Veliu’s Kayo and the Israelis of Elbit Systems Ltd, for the establishment of the Aviation Academy.