FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
"Miami New Times" has dedicated an article to the role of trafficker Artur Shehu in the property issue in Zvërnec...
A luxury waterfront mansion in Miami Beach, on the exclusive Flamingo Drive, seems like the unlikeliest place to become the headquarters of one of the most contentious real estate battles in the Balkans.
But, according to an extensive investigation by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), it was there that Albanian developer Artur Shehu led efforts for years to secure coastal properties in his homeland, properties that now form the basis of the $1.4 billion luxury resort that Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump plan to build in Albania.
Now, Shehu, who owns multimillion-dollar homes in both Miami Beach and North Bay Village and runs a Florida-based real estate business, is at the center of a growing international controversy involving disputed land deals, allegations of ties to organized crime and an investigation by Albanian authorities against corruption.
The latest attention came after the Daily Beast reported that Albanian prosecutors are looking into claims related to land acquired for Kushner’s planned resort on the Adriatic coast. Neither Kushner nor Ivanka Trump have been charged with any wrongdoing, and there is no indication that they are under investigation. Their developer has said it conducted an extensive due diligence process before going ahead with the project.
For South Floridians, however, one of the central figures of this controversy has lived much closer to them.
From Miami Beach to the Albanian Riviera
Property records show that Shehu owns a waterfront mansion at 2637 Flamingo Drive in Miami Beach, along one of the city's most exclusive residential streets. He also owns a condo in North Bay Village at 1510 South Treasure Drive (currently rented for $21,000 per month).
According to OCCRP, investigators believe Shehu directed the purchase of thousands of acres of coastal land in Albania while living in South Florida, gradually building one of the largest private land portfolios in the country.
This land then became essential to Kushner's plans to transform the protected Albanian coast into a major luxury tourist destination.
OCCRP reported that Shehu spent years buying up disputed property claims from local residents, often through complicated legal deals that critics say exploited the chaotic property system in post-communist Albania. Many residents claim that land that had belonged to their families for generations was irregularly transferred to private hands before being sold for development.
The dispute eventually sparked nationwide protests in Albania, with demonstrators accusing the government of favoring politically connected developers at the expense of local communities. Flamingos became a symbol of the movement after environmentalists warned that the project threatened sensitive coastal habitat.
Shehu has also continued his business activity in South Florida.
Company records show that he controls Adhenis, a real estate company that operates through a limited liability company registered in Florida, while developing projects in Albania.
The company has promoted residential and commercial projects in the Balkan country, reflecting Shehu's dual presence in South Florida and Southeast Europe.
New Times attempted to contact Shehu through several phone numbers associated with him, but was unsuccessful. He also did not respond to an emailed request for comment by the time of publication.
Shehu has long denied accusations linking him to organized crime.
According to OCCRP, Italian authorities had previously investigated Shehu for suspected links to drug trafficking and organized crime networks, but did not bring any charges against him, concluding that they did not have sufficient evidence to prosecute him.
The report also describes how Albanian prosecutors are examining financial transactions and land purchases related to the coastal development project. The investigation does not accuse Kushner, Ivanka Trump or their investment company of any criminal offenses.
Shehu has denied involvement in illegal activities. Through his lawyers, he has stated that the property purchases were made in accordance with Albanian law. / Adapted from "Pamphlet" by " Miami New Times "
Lini një Përgjigje