Arrest warrants for 20 suspects in Albania bring to light possible links to the tourism project of the Kushners and Trump.
The Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office of Albania (SPAK) has requested the arrest of 20 individuals suspected of drug trafficking and money laundering, while local media link some of them to the ambitious tourism project of Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump in the country.
The luxury resort and the reactions
The plan by the son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump, Jared Kushner, calls for the development of an extensive luxury tourist complex on the coast of the Viosha/Narta region, approximately 150 kilometers southwest of Tirana, as well as the creation of a luxury resort on the uninhabited island Sazan, which was previously used as a military base.
The project has sparked strong reactions, as environmental organizations argue that it threatens a protected area in Albania. Over the past two weeks, massive protests have been taking place in various cities across the country, while thousands of citizens gathered again today in Tirana demanding the suspension of the project.
The SPAK investigation and asset freezes
According to the announcement by SPAK, the investigation into international cocaine trafficking</revealed the involvement of many individuals in actions allegedly aimed at concealing the origin of assets and integrating proceeds from illegal activities into the formal economy.
Of the 20 individuals being sought, Albanian authorities arrested four today, though the prosecutor’s office made no direct reference to the investment plan of Kusner.
The court also ordered the seizure of assets linked to sales contracts between citizens A.Sh, F.S., and B.S. and the company “A…L…D… sh.a”, with the total amount of the freeze exceeding 128.4 million euros.
The announcement also notes that part of the investments whose legality is in question is linked to real estate and construction projects in Tirana, Palaça, Himara, and other coastal areas of the country.
References to Albania Land Development
The company A…L…D. is believed to correspond to Albania Land Development, which, according to public documents from the Albanian Chamber of Commerce cited by the French Press Agency, acquired large tracts of land in Zvernec, an area that appears to coincide with the location of the planned tourism project.
In a recent podcast interview, Ivanka Trump described the project, noting that it includes “five miles of coastal zone” across from the island of Sazan, featuring a lagoon, white-sand beaches, and an extensive waterfront.
Meanwhile, A.Sh is reportedly Artur Shehu, who has been mentioned in media reports and in an investigation by the website reporter.al as the main seller of land to Albania Land Development for the project’s needs.
So far, SPAK has not responded to relevant questions from the French Press Agency regarding any connection between the case and the Kushner-Trump investment plan.
Source: APE-MPE
