Overview
- Reporting on July 11 described a 200‑page SPAK case file that names Miami‑based Artur Shehu as suspected of forging deeds and laundering proceeds from South American cocaine into Albanian real estate.
- SPAK dated the files June 12, issued arrest warrants in June for 20 people in a wider narcotics and money‑laundering probe, and ordered about €110 million tied to the April sale frozen in a notary account.
- Shehu and his lawyer deny the accusations and say the sale was lawful, while Sazan Real Estate Development and other investors say the purchases were legitimate and have not been accused by prosecutors.
- Villagers from Zvernec have long challenged Shehu's ownership in court and recently produced title deeds and tax records claiming the land, and sustained protests known as the 'Flamingo Revolution' have focused public attention on environmental harm.
- The investigation raises immediate legal and reputational risks for the resort project and could affect Albania's EU accession review, so key next steps to watch are any arrests, formal charges, court rulings on ownership and requests for international cooperation.