French tourist stabbed to death in Ksamil; suspect arrested hiding in car trunk

A 20-year-old French tourist, identified as Miguel Mendes, was found dead this morning on a sunbed in the Albanian resort village of Ksamil; authorities say he was fatally stabbed after an alleged dispute over a girl.

According to initial police information, Mendes was stabbed with a knife in front of a beach bar. Local investigators believe the attack took place on the seafront and that the victim died at the scene.

Suspect arrested hiding in a car trunk

The main suspect is 29-year-old Sokrat Vata, from Has. Police say Vata fled immediately after the attack and a search was launched. He was arrested several hours later in Levan in the Fier area after officers found him hiding in the trunk of a car.

Albanian authorities note that Vata has a criminal record in the United Kingdom. In 2024 he was arrested and later convicted for drug trafficking in England.

Details from the UK cases say Vata was involved in two separate incidents. On 30 April police in Cambridge saw him driving a stolen Toyota and attempted to flee; during the pursuit he discarded a package containing cocaine into bushes and was later caught. Officers reportedly found 560 pounds on him, and tests indicated he was driving under the influence.

In a separate incident on 13 April in Kent, Vata failed to stop for police and caused a traffic accident while driving a vehicle fitted with cloned registration plates; officers found bags of cocaine and the plates in the car. He was brought before the Cambridge court, pleaded guilty to possession of a Class A drug with intent to supply, two counts of dangerous driving, possession of cannabis and driving under the influence, and was sentenced to five years' imprisonment.

Investigations in Albania are ongoing as local police continue to gather evidence around the stabbing in Ksamil.

Photo: CambridgeshireLive / Cambridge Police