Man who sold land for Jared Kushner resort accused of forging ownership deeds

A Miami-based businessman wanted in Albania on accusations of laundering drug money is also suspected of forging ownership deeds for the land where Jared Kushner plans to build a multi-billion-dollar resort, according to case files from Albania's Special Structure Against Corruption and Organised Crime (SPAK) reviewed by the news agency Reuters.

The businessman, Artur Shehu, denies all accusations through his lawyer, Kujtim Cakrani, who confirmed that Albanian prosecutors have issued an arrest warrant seeking Shehu for laundering money linked to drug gangs.

According to the 200-page case files dated June 12, 2026, SPAK accuses Shehu and his associates of trafficking South American cocaine into European ports and laundering the proceeds by building a real estate empire using forged land-ownership documents.

"Reasonable suspicions are formed, based on evidence, that the above-mentioned assets were acquired through the use of forged documents," prosecutors wrote in the files.

Cakrani rejected the allegations.

"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," he said.

He added that Shehu was aware of the allegations but maintained "that the truth is entirely different from what the prosecution claims."

A spokesperson for the US Justice Department declined to comment on whether US authorities had received any request from Albania to locate or detain Shehu in Miami.

LAND SALE FOR KUSHNER-BACKED RESORT

In April, Shehu sold a stretch of pristine Albanian coastline earmarked for the planned resort to Albania Land Development, a company owned by the Kushner-backed project's developers, Sazan Real Estate Development, along with other investors.

The SPAK files do not accuse Kushner, Sazan Real Estate Development, Albania Land Development or any other investors of wrongdoing.

A spokesperson for Sazan Real Estate Development did not directly address the allegations against Shehu but said the company believed the land acquisitions were legitimate.

"We continue to believe the underlying land acquisitions were conducted lawfully and in accordance with applicable procedures. As always, we respect and will cooperate with any lawful process as required," the spokesperson said.

A spokesperson for Kushner declined to comment. While Sazan has confirmed that Kushner is an investor in the project, neither his precise role nor the size of his investment has been made public.

PROJECT ALREADY FACES LOCAL OPPOSITION

The allegations over the land deeds add another challenge for the high-profile development, which has already drawn protests from environmental groups and local residents who argue it threatens wildlife.

Residents of the village of Zvernec have challenged Shehu's ownership claims in court for more than a decade. Last month, around a dozen residents showed Reuters title deeds and tax records that they said proved they were the rightful owners of the land.

Their lawyer, Kostandin Beko, said the legal dispute remains active and that the residents plan to seek a court order to halt the resort project.

The planned resort would occupy a stretch of beaches, forest and wetlands along Albania's Adriatic coast that serves as habitat for sea turtles and flamingoes. Protesters have branded their campaign the "Flamingo Revolution."

Ivanka Trump has previously said she and Kushner came up with the idea for the resort after spotting the coastline from a yacht. In 2024, Kushner announced the project on social media, sharing artist's renderings that showed hotels, villas, swimming pools and yacht jetties. He has not publicly disclosed the amount he has invested.

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has strongly backed the development, describing it as a "beautiful" project and telling Reuters last month that it would proceed regardless of protests.

A government spokesperson said the Albanian government would not intervene in private transactions and that the project was moving forward in compliance with Albanian and European Union laws.

The European Commission has previously urged Albania, an EU candidate country, to comply with EU environmental rules in relation to the project. A Commission spokesperson did not provide additional comment.

SPAK INVESTIGATION

SPAK, established in 2019 as Albania's independent anti-corruption and organised crime agency, prepared the case files but has not made them public.

A spokesperson for SPAK confirmed that the agency was investigating the matter but declined further comment.

On June 12, SPAK also announced arrest warrants for 20 people on accusations of narcotics trafficking and money laundering. While the public warrants identified suspects only by initials in line with Albanian practice.

Cakrani confirmed that Shehu was among those targeted but said his client was unconcerned by the warrant because it was "widely believed" that Albanian prosecutors operated under the influence of politicians and business figures.

SPAK has not announced whether it has arrested or charged any of the 20 suspects.

PROSECUTORS SEEK TO FREEZE SALE PROCEEDS

According to the SPAK documents, Shehu sold the land for about €110 million. Prosecutors said they ordered the funds frozen in the account of a notary, preventing the money from reaching him.

The files allege that Shehu and his associates "purchased land using illegally obtained funds and forged ownership documents by creating false property titles or artificially increasing the size of properties."

"The properties were then transferred or exchanged so they could not easily be traced by the authorities," the documents state.

Cakrani said Shehu's family had owned the land since the Ottoman Empire more than a century ago and that the sale to the resort investors was lawful.

He also said Shehu sought political asylum in the United States in 1998 after criminal gangs killed his brother and uncle in front of him.

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