Five people have been arrested and six others declared wanted after a businessman in Albania’s coastal city of Vlorë was allegedly beaten, threatened with firearms and presented with a €5 million extortion demand, police said Thursday.

The incident was reported at around 11:30 a.m. by Vasil Bedinaj, owner of a hotel in the Radhimë area, who told police that several people had assaulted and threatened him with guns.

According to police, the suspects allegedly ordered Bedinaj to pay €5 million and leave Albania within 48 hours.

Police immediately established checkpoints across Vlorë, as well as in neighboring Fier and Gjirokastër counties. During the operation, officers attempted to stop a black Range Rover near Alikokë, but the vehicle allegedly refused to stop and was later involved in a crash near the Peshkëpi Bridge.

Three people were inside the vehicle. Two of them were injured and taken to Vlorë Regional Hospital, where they were reported to be out of danger.

Police said they seized a pistol and a magazine containing 16 rounds of ammunition from the Range Rover.

Later, officers in Fier stopped another vehicle allegedly linked to the incident. Its driver, identified as Kosovo citizen Blerim Heta, was arrested. Police said the vehicle had damage to the passenger-side window, apparently caused by gunfire, and three pistol rounds were found inside.

At around 4:30 p.m., police also discovered an Audi A8 on fire near Kaninë, on the Vlorë bypass. Investigators suspect the vehicle had been used by people involved in the incident.

Police said their preliminary investigation indicates that Luan Muça and several other individuals went to Bedinaj’s hotel and allegedly threatened him with firearms and physical violence.

Investigators also allege that Angjelo Breshani took a firearm legally owned by Bedinaj from his vehicle and fired toward vehicles belonging to people at the scene.

The five arrested suspects were identified by police as Luan Muça, 55; Klaudio Lleshaj, 29; Mandrit Lleshaj, 33; Blerim Heta, 40; and Angjelo Breshani, 29.

Six additional suspects and four vehicles have been declared wanted as the investigation continues.

Police said the case is being investigated in cooperation with the Vlorë Prosecutor’s Office on charges including extortion through threats to obtain property, allegedly committed in cooperation, as well as illegal possession and production of firearms, explosives and ammunition.