Key facts
- Businessman Artur Shehu is wanted in Albania for alleged money laundering and is suspected of faking land deeds.
- The land in question is slated for a multi-billion-dollar resort project backed by Jared Kushner.
- Albanian prosecutors have stated reasonable suspicions that the land assets were acquired through forged documents.
- No allegations of wrongdoing have been made against Kushner or the resort developers.
- Local residents have ongoing legal disputes over the land ownership, dating back over a decade.
- The Special Structure Against Corruption and Organised Crime (SPAK) is investigating the case.
A businessman wanted in Albania for alleged money laundering, Artur Shehu, is suspected of faking land deeds for a multi-billion-dollar resort project planned by Jared Kushner's backed developers. Albanian prosecutors have formed reasonable suspicions that assets were acquired through forged documents, according to case files reviewed by Reuters. Shehu denies all accusations through his lawyer, who stated that the family has owned the land for over 100 years and that Shehu sold it lawfully.
The land was sold to Albania Land Development, a company owned by Sazan Real Estate Development and other investors. The case files make no allegations of wrongdoing against Kushner or the resort developers, and there is no indication that investors were aware of any suspicions when purchasing the land. A spokesperson for Sazan Real Estate Development stated they believe the land acquisitions were legitimate.
This accusation adds another hurdle to the high-profile project, which is already facing mass protests over environmental concerns. Local residents have been contesting Shehu's claim to the land in court for over a decade, presenting their own title deeds and tax records as proof of ownership. Their lawyer plans to seek a court order to halt the project.
Albania's Special Structure Against Corruption and Organised Crime (SPAK) is investigating the matter. SPAK documents indicate Shehu sold the land for approximately €110 million, and funds were ordered frozen in a notary's account. The agency confirmed it is investigating the subject matter but declined further comment. The case files, dated June 12, 2026, were prepared by SPAK, which was established in 2019 to combat corruption. Arrest warrants issued that same day for 20 individuals for drug trafficking and money laundering used initials that correspond to names in the case files, including 'A.Sh.' for Shehu.