Man who sold land for Kushner-backed Albania resort facing criminal probe

Artur Shehu, an Albanian-American dual national residing in Miami, is facing a criminal investigation in Albania for alleged drug trafficking and money laundering. Shehu sold land designated for a luxury tourism development backed by Jared Kushner, former President Trump's son-in-law. Albanian court records obtained by CBS News reveal that prosecutors believe there is "sufficient evidence" of Shehu's "involvement in drug trafficking criminal activity" and "sufficient data" suggesting he falsified financial documents for other real estate and construction ventures.

The proposed resort development, planned for protected natural coastal areas in Albania, has ignited mass protests across the country. Environmental activists, local families, diaspora members, and tourists have taken to the streets in Tirana for over a month. The protests, dubbed "the flamingo revolution" by activists referencing threatened wildlife, are fueled by concerns over the luxury tourism project and a law that permits it within a historically protected, wildlife-rich area known as Zvërnec.

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Kushner, married to Ivanka Trump, is part of an investment group seeking to develop a luxury tourism complex along Albania's Adriatic coastline. He announced his involvement in 2024, and Ivanka Trump recently referenced their resort plans on a podcast. The anger over the development in Zvërnec has broadened into a wider movement protesting alleged corruption within the Albanian government and its ruling elite.

In addition to the investigations revealed by the court documents, Shehu is also under scrutiny from Albanian authorities regarding the land transaction with Albania Land Development LLC, a company linked to Kushner's investment group. This probe into Shehu's activities adds another layer of controversy to the already contentious resort project.

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