Albanian Prosecutors Investigate Land Seller but Say Probe Does Not Involve Kushner-Linked Company

Albanian prosecutors are investigating Miami resident Artur Shehu for alleged drug trafficking and money laundering in connection with land he sold for a luxury tourism project on the Adriatic coast. Court filings dated June 10 state there is sufficient evidence of his involvement in drug trafficking criminal activity and sufficient data suggesting he falsified financial documents around other real estate and construction projects.

Shehu sold the land to Albania Land Development LLC, a company linked to investors including Jared Kushner.

An Albanian court order notes a frozen bank account containing more than $127 million originating from that sale. SPAK prosecutors are examining whether Shehu acquired the land fraudulently. A SPAK spokesperson confirmed in June that the agency opened an investigation into the planned development but said the probe does not concern any company associated with Mr.

Kushner. Kushner announced his involvement in the project in 2024. Thousands of Albanians have protested in Tirana for over a month against the development and a law permitting construction in a protected natural area.

A demonstration against the project took place in the capital on June 14. Residents of Zvërnec have disputed Shehu's ownership of the land since at least 2013 and continue to challenge his right to sell it, according to the Albanian prime minister's office. Shehu told an Albanian TV show last month that his claim on the land was undisputed and that he sold it through an unnamed middleman.

SPAK issued arrest warrants last month for 15 Albanian citizens for alleged international drug trafficking and money laundering. Florida public records link Shehu to an address in Miami Beach.