A reported conflict in the Orikum area has put Vlorë Police on alert after, according to the official version, a resort owner reported that armed individuals were confronting him. The incident took another turn a few minutes later, when police pursued a vehicle traveling at speed and ultimately found a firearm inside.
The phone call that sent police into the field
According to police, at around 11:30 a.m. they received a report from the owner of a resort in Vlorë, identified as Vasil Bedinaj, who claimed that armed individuals were confronting him near a hotel in Orikum.
After the alert, police forces headed to the address provided and set up checkpoints in the area, while the actual sequence of events remains under verification.
The pursuit near Pusi i Mezinit and the crash
Near Pusi i Mezinit, police officers spotted a vehicle traveling at speed and gave chase. According to the official statement, the driver lost control and the vehicle crashed.
There were three people in the vehicle. Two of them were injured in the crash, while the third showed no health problems. All three are being questioned by investigators about their role and the circumstances of their involvement.
What was found in the vehicle
During a search of the vehicle, police say they found a firearm, a pistol. So far, this is the most concrete element made public by the authorities in an incident where the rest of the claims remain at the verification stage.
There are suspicions that firearms may also have been used during the conflict, but at this stage police have not announced the discovery of shell casings at the scene. That leaves it unclear whether there were shots fired or only claims involving weapons.
The Bedinaj-Muça clash and the shadow of property
Sources cited in the initial reporting link the conflict to the two businessmen, Vasil Bedinaj and Luan Muça. It was initially claimed that the clash was connected to a considerable sum of money.
However, according to the same sources, a property in Palasë, where a resort is under development, is suspected to be at the center of the conflict. Claims go further, alleging there were demands for a percentage of that property, but these remain versions that have not yet been officially clarified by the investigation.
Investigation under the direction of the Prosecution
Police announced the formation of a special investigative team, which is operating under the direction of the Prosecution. According to the authorities, security camera footage, statements from the people involved and other operational data are being collected.
At the same time, searches are being carried out in cooperation with other police structures to identify other individuals who may have been part of the incident. So far, however, more questions than full answers remain about what actually happened in Orikum and its connection to the property in Palasë.
The incident once again brings to the surface tensions that erupt over coastal properties and investments, where official versions usually emerge in fragments and important gaps remain to be clarified after the event.
For the moment, the facts publicly confirmed are the report of a conflict, the pursuit of the vehicle, the crash and the discovery of a pistol. The rest of the claims remain subject to the investigation.