A serious incident occurred today at noon in Vlora, where a businessman was threatened with a firearm and raped by several people.
The Vlora Police have provided details about the incident, stating that the perpetrators have imposed a fine of 5 million euros on the businessman. According to the Police, he was threatened that he must leave Albania within 48 hours.
Following the complaint, the Police services set up checkpoints in several areas to apprehend the suspects. During the pursuit, a Range Rover vehicle disobeyed police orders and went off the road in the area of the Peshkëpi Bridge.
A pistol and a magazine with 16 bullets were found in the vehicle, while two of the people inside were injured. Following the operation, the Police stopped another suspicious vehicle and found three pistol bullets inside it.
At the end of the action, five people were arrested, while six others were declared wanted and investigations continue to fully unravel the incident.
Full statement of the director of the Vlora Police, Edvin Ndreu
As you were informed through preliminary information, today, at around 11:30, we were notified by the owner of a hotel in Radhimë, specifically by citizen VB, that he needed help, after several people had raped him and threatened him with firearms.
Immediately after receiving the notification, Police services were organized and headed towards the given address.
Taking full advantage of the information received, checkpoints were set up at the entrances and exits of the city of Vlora and Dhërmi. A special investigative group was also immediately set up, under the direction of the Vlora Prosecutor's Office.
Meanwhile, cooperation was established with the Local Police Directorates of Gjirokastra and Fier to set up checkpoints in these territories as well.
At around 12:00, at the checkpoint in the Alikoka District, a black Range Rover SUV failed to stop, continuing on its way towards the village of Peshkëpi. During the pursuit, at the place called Ura e Peshkëpisë, this vehicle left the road, hitting its protective barriers.
There were three citizens in this vehicle, specifically citizen Luan Muça, the driver of the vehicle, and two passengers, citizens Klaudio and Mandrit Lleshaj, brothers, employees of SH.PSF "Swat Security".
As a result of the accident, citizens Luan Muça and Mandrit Lleshaj were injured and transported for medical assistance to the Vlora Regional Hospital, out of danger to their lives.
During the search of the vehicle, the Police services found and seized, as material evidence, a firearm, a pistol, along with a magazine with 16 live ammunition.
At around 1:00 PM, the checkpoint set up by the Fier DVP services, at the place called Memorial Overpass, stopped one of the vehicles declared wanted, driven by Kosovar citizen Blerim Heta.
An inspection and search of the vehicle revealed damage to the passenger side window, suspected to have been caused by a firearm. Three pistol cartridges were found inside the vehicle.
At around 16:30, on the Vlora bypass, near the village of Kaninë, an "Audi A8" vehicle was found burning, suspected of being used by the perpetrators in the incident.
From the entirety of the investigative actions, it results that citizen Luan Muça, together with several other citizens, went to the hotel owned by citizen Vasil Bedinaj, who, under the threat of weapons and physical violence, was fined 5 million euros and threatened to leave Albania after 48 hours.
Meanwhile, citizen Angjelo Breshani went to citizen Vasil Bedinaj's vehicle and took the firearm that he possessed with a permit and shot at the vehicles of the people who were there.
At the end of the actions, the following citizens were arrested in flagrante delicto:
– Luan Muça, 55 years old, resident of Tirana;
– Klaudio Lleshaj, 29 years old, resident of Tirana;
– Mandrit Lleshaj, 33 years old, resident of Tirana;
– Blerim Heta, 40 years old, Kosovar citizen;
– Angjelo Breshani, 29 years old, resident of Vlora.
Six citizens and four vehicles suspected of being involved in the incident have been declared wanted, and intensive work to capture them continues.
In cooperation with the Prosecutor's Office, investigative and operational actions continue to fully document this event.
The materials will be referred to the Prosecution for the criminal offenses of “Coercion by Threat to Give Up Property”, committed in collaboration, and “Unauthorized Possession and Production of Weapons, Explosive Weapons and Ammunition”.