A Miami-based businessman linked to Jared Kushner’s luxury resort project in Albania is wanted by Albanian authorities for money laundering and suspected involvement in a cocaine trafficking network stretching from South America to Europe, according to judicial documents reviewed by Reuters.
Artur Shehu at the Center of Investigation
The individual in question is Artur Shehu, an entrepreneur who sold a coastal plot in southern Albania in April to Albania Land Development, a company involved in developing the high-end Sazan Real Estate Development project — an initiative backed by Kushner, Donald Trump’s son-in-law.
Albanian prosecutors allege that Shehu acquired the land using forged property titles and that illicit proceeds from drug trafficking were laundered through real estate investments. Judicial filings cite “reasonable suspicion” that the parcel was obtained fraudulently.
No Allegations Against Kushner or Project Entities
Reuters notes that no charges have been filed against Kushner, Sazan Real Estate Development, Albania Land Development, or any other investors in the project. There is also no indication that these parties were aware of the allegations against Shehu at the time of the land purchase.
Shehu Denies All Accusations
Shehu has categorically rejected the claims, calling them baseless. His lawyer, Kujtim Cakrani, confirmed that an arrest warrant has been issued against Shehu for money laundering but emphasized that the family has held the land for over a century — dating back to the Ottoman Empire — and maintains the sale was fully legal.
Developers Stand by Transaction
A spokesperson for Sazan Real Estate Development told Reuters the €110 million land acquisition followed all applicable legal procedures and affirmed the company’s willingness to cooperate with relevant authorities if required. Albania Land Development declined to comment, as did a representative for Kushner.
Broader Controversy Surrounding the Project
The proposed resort has long drawn criticism in Albania due to its potential environmental impact on a protected coastal zone home to wetlands, flamingos, and sea turtles. Local residents have also contested ownership of the land for years, citing historical claims and unresolved property rights issues.