What we know so far
Albania's Special Anti-Corruption Prosecution Office, SPAK, opened a formal preliminary corruption investigation on 2 June 2026 covering how coastal land titles within the Zvërnec development zone were processed and transferred to private entities, how officials bypassed the normal public tender system for strategic investor contracts, and the origin of the land purchase funds. The investigation also covers the controversial 2024 legislative changes to Albania's Protected Areas Act that enabled the development. Earlier, on 29 May, SPAK had issued a preventive sequestration order freezing approximately 195 million dollars held by Albania Land Development at Banka Kombëtare Tregtare. Within approximately three days, the freeze was lifted. SPAK made no public statement on either action; the reversal was attributed to a need to avoid exposing Albania to international arbitration claims. Searches were conducted of Redi Struga, the company's administrator and suspected intermediary. Artur Shehu, residing in the United States, is suspected of leading a scheme to alter and appropriate land ownership rights in the protected zone. The wider corporate network under examination includes: Albania Land Development SHPK (linked to Qatari brothers Moutaz and Ramez Al-Khayyat of UrbaCon); Zvërnec South Adriatic Development (Dutch and Bulgarian beneficial owners); and Sazan Real Estate Development LLC (associated with Affinity Partners). Investigative reporting by Balkan Insight additionally identified Alaudin Malaj, a former judge removed during Albania's judicial vetting, and Musa Kastrati, reported to have negotiated with Ivanka Trump. No formal criminal charges have been filed in the property fraud investigation as of 8 June.
Tirana, Albania
Source organisations and public authorities named in the linked records.
8 linked evidence records are listed below.
The report is not treated as fully verified until stronger official documents or independent confirmation are available.
Further official documents, exact location evidence and independent confirmation should be added as they become available.
This report documents currently available information about Tirana, Albania. All documented material is kept separate from claims that still need checking. The page should be read together with the linked evidence records, official source documents and verification notes listed below.
The primary sources for this report include OCNAL, 2 June 2026: https://www.ocnal.com/2026/06/spak-seizes-200-million-albania-land-development-zvernec-land-fraud-investigation.html ; Kapitali, 3 June 2026: https://kapitali.al/english/lajme-nga-vendi/terhiqet-spak-zhbllokohen-parate-e-zvernecit-i36597 ; Report TV, 3 June 2026: https://report-tv.al/lajm/zhbllokohen-195-milione-dollare-per-zvernecin-spak-i-bllokoi-per-3-dite-ne-bkt?r=read_more. Each item listed in the evidence table below carries its own source attribution and verification status. Where official documents exist they are linked directly.
The current verification status is Partly Verified. Save Albania assigns this label when available source documents, location evidence and independent confirmation are sufficient to support the report. The status will be updated as new evidence is submitted or becomes available through public records.
Readers are encouraged to submit additional documents, maps, photographs or source links using the form in the sidebar. All submissions are reviewed before being added to the evidence record. Nothing is published without a source check.
Evidence linked to this article
| Evidence | Type | Date | Status | Source | View |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AIDA public request register - Zvërnec response | Public information register | 2024 | Verified for the date of register | AIDA | View open_in_new |
| IKMT statement on works in Pishë-Poro-Nartë/Zvërnec | Official statement | 12/05/2026 | Verified official statement | IKMT | View open_in_new |
| KKT agenda - Zvërnec South Adriatic Development | Official KKT agenda | 04/10/2024 | Verified official agenda | AZHT / KKT | View open_in_new |
| KKT agenda - resort/building permit entries | Official KKT agenda | 28/01/2025 | Verified official agenda | AZHT / KKT | View open_in_new |
| KKT agenda - Leje Zhvillimi for resort tourism | Official KKT agenda | 18/04/2025 | Verified official agenda | AZHT / KKT | View open_in_new |
| KKTU agenda - fencing and preparatory access-road works | Official KKTU agenda | 29/04/2026 | Verified official agenda | AZHT / KKTU | View open_in_new |
| Reuters/AP/Le Monde/BIRN/Reporter/etc links | Investigation/media links | 2021-2026 | Partly verified / unverified claims | Media organisations | View open_in_new |
| KKT Agenda 09.07.2024 – Concord Investment / Zvërnec development item | Official KKT agenda PDF | 09 July 2024 | Verified agenda item; final decision/permit still needed | AZHT / Këshilli Kombëtar i Territorit | View open_in_new |
Timeline
- AIDA public request register - Zvërnec response
- IKMT statement on works in Pishë-Poro-Nartë/Zvërnec
- KKT agenda - Zvërnec South Adriatic Development
- KKT Agenda 09.07.2024 – Concord Investment / Zvërnec development item
Why it matters
Protected areas, coastal habitats and public land decisions affect biodiversity, communities and Albania's long-term natural heritage. Clear source links help journalists, NGOs, researchers and international readers check the record for themselves.
What is still missing
Further official documents, exact location evidence and independent confirmation should be added as they become available.
