Artur Shehu, a Miami businessman, is under investigation in Albania for alleged money laundering tied to drug trafficking, with suspicions of falsifying property documents for land intended for a resort project by Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of former President Donald Trump.
Reports from the Albanian organized crime agency cite the ongoing investigation, which has raised concerns about Shehu’s dealings. His attorney, Kujtim Cakrani, has denied all allegations, stating that Albanian prosecutors have issued a warrant for Shehu’s arrest related to money laundering charges associated with drug trafficking organizations.
Albanian investigators accuse Shehu and his associates of trafficking cocaine from South America to European ports, laundering the proceeds to build a real estate empire, which allegedly included forged property documents. Cakrani stated, “Nothing alleged about Mr. Artur Shehu’s character is true. He is neither a drug trafficker nor a forger of property documents.”
Shehu is aware of the charges from the Albanian prosecutor’s office, asserting that the truth differs significantly from the prosecution’s claims. A spokesperson from the U.S. Department of Justice declined to comment on whether they have received a request from Albania to locate or detain Shehu in Miami.
Sale of Property to Kushner
In April, Shehu sold a stretch of unspoiled Albanian coastline designated for the resort to Albania Land Development, a company owned by developers involved with Kushner’s project, Sazan Real Estate Development, and other investors. Prosecutors noted there are reasonable suspicions that the land was acquired using falsified documents.
To date, there are no allegations against Kushner, Sazan Real Estate Development, or Albania Land Development related to legal violations in this investigation. Reuters found no evidence indicating that any investors were aware of the suspicions surrounding Shehu when they purchased the land.
A spokesperson for Sazan Real Estate Development did not address the allegations against Shehu but stated that the company believes the land acquisitions were legitimate. Albania Land Development has not responded to inquiries from Reuters regarding the situation, while a spokesperson for Kushner declined to comment on the article, although it has been confirmed that Kushner is an investor in the project, with details of his financial involvement remaining undisclosed.
Controversial Resort Project
The accusation of potentially falsified property documents poses another challenge for a large-scale project that is already facing mass protests over claims it threatens local wildlife. Residents of the nearby village of Zvernec contest Shehu’s claims to the land, having engaged in legal battles for over a decade.
Last month, twelve residents showed Reuters property titles and tax documents they claim prove their rightful ownership. Their attorney, Kostandin Beko, stated that the case is still open, and they intend to seek a court ruling to halt the resort project.
Albania, once one of Europe’s poorest and most isolated countries, is now a candidate for EU membership and is experiencing a construction boom along some of its last unspoiled coastal areas along the Adriatic Sea. The Kushner-backed resort is planned along a stretch of wild beaches, forest, and a wetland habitat for marine turtles and flamingos, which have become symbols for opponents of the project, who dub their protests “Flamingo Revolution.”
Ivanka Trump Shares Inspiration for Resort
Ivanka Trump mentioned that she and Kushner conceived the idea for the resort while viewing the coastline from a yacht years ago. In 2024, Kushner announced plans on social media, accompanied by artistic representations of the land featuring a hotel, villas, pools, and yacht docks, though he did not disclose how much he has invested in the project.
The Albanian government has strongly supported the plans, asserting that the protests are organized by its political opponents. Prime Minister Edi Rama described the project as “beautiful” in a recent statement to Reuters, emphasizing it will proceed regardless of the controversies.
When questioned about the allegations against Shehu, a government spokesperson indicated that the Tirana executive would not intervene in private transactions but affirmed that the project complies with Albanian and EU laws. Brussels has previously urged Albania to adhere to EU environmental regulations concerning this project, as the country seeks EU membership.
Miami Businessman Investigated by Special Structure
The investigation files against Shehu have been compiled by the Special Structure Against Corruption and Organized Crime in Albania (SPAK), established in 2019 to combat corruption with its own independent investigators and prosecutors. The files, consisting of 200 pages, have not been made public. A spokesperson for the agency confirmed that SPAK is investigating the matter but declined to provide further comments.
Documents are dated June 12, 2026, the same day SPAK announced arrest warrants for 20 individuals under charges of drug trafficking and money laundering linked to these activities. Unlike case files which identify Shehu and others by their full names, arrest warrants only refer to suspects by initials according to standard practices in Albania, where suspects are not named publicly before charges are filed.
All initials in the arrest warrants match the full names of individuals described in the case files, including one suspect referred to as “A.Sh.” Cakrani confirmed that Shehu was targeted but claimed that he is not concerned about the arrest warrant, as there is a widespread belief that Albanian prosecutors act under the influence of politicians and businessmen.
SPAK has not disclosed whether any of the 20 suspects have been arrested or charged since then.
Prosecutors’ Claims
SPAK documents reveal that Shehu sold the land intended for the resort project for approximately 110 million euros, which they indicate should be frozen to prevent the funds from reaching Shehu. They allege that Shehu and his associates “acquired lands using illegally obtained funds and forged property documents by creating false titles or artificially inflating the size of properties.”
“The properties were then transferred or exchanged in ways that made them difficult to trace by authorities,” SPAK noted in their file.
A spokesperson for Sazan Real Estate Development asserted, “We continue to believe that land acquisitions were conducted legally and according to the applicable procedures. As always, we respect and will cooperate with any legal process as needed.”
Shehu’s Defense
Reuters requested further details from the spokesperson regarding why the company believes the land acquisitions were lawful given the prosecutors’ allegations against Shehu but did not receive additional responses. Cakrani stated that Shehu’s family has owned the lands since the Ottoman Empire over a century ago and that Shehu sold them legally to the resort investors.
Cakrani characterized Shehu as an upstanding citizen who sought political asylum in the United States in 1998 after “criminal gangs” murdered his brother and uncle in front of him. Reuters could not independently verify this account of events.
