An Albanian-American man who sold land for a possible luxury development backed by President

JUL 02 2026 · 22:23

An Albanian-American man who sold land for a possible luxury development backed by President Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner is under investigation for alleged drug trafficking and money laundering, Albanian court records reviewed by CBS News show. The controversial plans to build resorts in long-protected natural coastal areas have sparked mass protests in Albania’s capital, Tirana. Artur Shehu, a Miami resident with dual U.S. and Albanian nationality, is being investigated by Albanian prosecutors, according to court filings dated June 10, which were obtained by CBS News. In addition to the investigations revealed by the court documents, he’s also facing scrutiny related to the sale of land for the Kushner-linked development. A spokesperson for Albania’s anti-corruption body SPAK confirmed to CBS News in June that it had opened an investigation into the planned development, but the agency said the probe “does not concern any company associated with Mr. Kushner.” 2013 court records reviewed by CBS News show Shehu’s previous ownership of the land had been disputed by residents in Zvërnec, who claimed they had rights to the area. Those residents are still actively legally challenging Shehu’s right to sell the land, according to the Albanian prime minister’s office. On Thursday, a spokesperson for Sazan Real Estate Development, the company representing investors in the Kushner-linked project, said in a statement to CBS News: “We are not a party to that matter and are not the subject of any investigation. 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.”