Land Seller for Kushner’s Albania Resort Accused of Forging Property Deeds

A Miami-based businessman wanted in Albania on drug money laundering charges is now suspected of faking the deeds to land where Jared Kushner plans to build a multi-billion-dollar resort. Case files from Albania’s organized crime agency, reviewed by Reuters, accuse Artur Shehu and his associates of using forged property documents as part of a broader scheme to launder proceeds from cocaine trafficking through real estate.

Shehu’s lawyer, Kujtim Cakrani, denied all allegations, saying his client is neither a drug trafficker nor a document forger. Albanian prosecutors have issued an arrest warrant for Shehu, who sold the coastal land to Albania Land Development, the company behind the Kushner-backed project, back in April.

No Wrongdoing Alleged Against Kushner or Investors

Prosecutors’ case files make no accusations against Kushner, project developer Sazan Real Estate Development, or other investors, and Reuters found no evidence any of them knew about suspicions surrounding Shehu when the land deal closed. A Sazan spokesperson said the company believes the land acquisitions were legitimate but did not directly address the allegations against Shehu.

Local Villagers Have Long Disputed Ownership

Residents of the nearby village of Zvernec have contested Shehu’s claim to the land in court for more than a decade, with a dozen of them showing Reuters title deeds and tax records they say prove their ownership. Their lawyer said they intend to seek a court order halting the project.

Project Already Facing Environmental Protests

The resort, planned along wild beaches and wetlands home to sea turtles and flamingoes, has drawn what opponents call the “Flamingo Revolution.” Albania’s government, including Prime Minister Edi Rama, has strongly defended the project and says protests are politically motivated. The €110 million from Shehu’s land sale has been frozen in a notary account, blocking him from accessing it while prosecutors from Albania’s SPAK anti-corruption agency continue their investigation.