Albanian prosecutors suspect a Miami-based businessman of falsifying land deeds for a multi-billion-dollar resort planned by Jared Kushner, according to case files from the country's organized crime-fighting agency reviewed by Reuters. The businessman, Artur Shehu, is also wanted in Albania for allegedly laundering drug money.
Shehu denies all accusations
Shehu's lawyer, Kujtim Cakrani, confirmed that Albanian prosecutors have issued an arrest warrant for Shehu on charges of laundering money for drug gangs. Cakrani stated, "Nothing that has been alleged regarding Mr. Artur Shehu’s character is true. He is neither a drug trafficker nor a forger of property documents." The case files accuse Shehu and associates of trafficking South American cocaine into European ports and using the proceeds to build a real estate empire, including through falsified land-ownership documents.
Land sale for Kushner-backed resort
In April 2026, Shehu sold a strip of pristine Albanian coastline to Albania Land Development, a company owned by Sazan Real Estate Development and other investors. Sazan has confirmed that Kushner is an investor in the project, though the exact nature of his role and investment remains undisclosed. Prosecutors wrote in the case files, "Reasonable suspicions are formed, based on evidence, that the above-mentioned assets were acquired through the use of forged documents." The files do not allege wrongdoing by Kushner, Sazan, or other investors. A spokesperson for Sazan Real Estate Development said the company believed the land acquisitions were legitimate. Kushner's spokesperson declined to comment.
Disputed project faces local opposition
The resort project has sparked mass protests over environmental concerns. Residents of Zvernec village have contested Shehu's land claims in court for over a decade. Last month, a dozen residents showed Reuters title deeds and tax records they said proved their ownership. Their lawyer, Kostandin Beko, said they plan to seek a court order to halt the project. The planned resort is on a stretch of wild beaches, forest, and wetland home to sea turtles and flamingoes, which have become symbols of the opposition, dubbed the "Flamingo Revolution."
Government support and EU scrutiny
Albania's government strongly backs the project, with Prime Minister Edi Rama calling it "beautiful" and saying it will proceed regardless of protests. A government spokesperson said the project complies with Albanian and EU laws. The EU has previously called on Albania to abide by EU environmental rules regarding the project.
SPAK investigation and arrest warrants
The case files were prepared by Albania's Special Structure Against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK), established in 2019. The 200-page files, dated June 12, 2026, have not been made public. On the same day, SPAK publicly announced arrest warrants for 20 people for drug trafficking and money laundering, identifying suspects by initials. One suspect is listed as "A.Sh.," corresponding to Shehu. Shehu's lawyer dismissed the warrant, claiming SPAK operates under political influence. SPAK has not confirmed any arrests.
Details of the alleged scheme
SPAK documents state that Shehu sold the land for approximately €110 million, funds that prosecutors ordered frozen in a notary's account. The files allege that Shehu and associates "purchased land using illegally obtained funds and forged ownership documents by creating false property titles or artificially increasing the size of properties," then transferred or exchanged properties to avoid detection. Shehu's lawyer maintains that Shehu's family has owned the land since Ottoman times and that the sale was lawful. Shehu, who sought political asylum in the US in 1998 after his brother and uncle were killed, is described by his lawyer as an upstanding citizen. Reuters could not independently verify this account.
