A wanted gunman who shot dead an Albanian father-of-two in Orihuela Costa may have been guided to his target by a drone, it has emerged.

The victim has been identified as Luka B., a 39-year-old convicted drug trafficker from Vlora who lived locally with his wife and two children.

According to local newspaper Informacion, the Guardia Civil is investigating whether a drone was used to locate him at the Playa Flamenca Sport Club before the attack.

At least one witness reported seeing a device flying over the complex shortly before the shooting.

The victim was sitting with three other people when the attacker approached, dressed entirely in black and wearing a helmet and scarf that left only his eyes visible.

Luka reportedly tried to flee when the shooting began but was struck in the back and head.

He suffered at least four gunshot wounds, although some sources put the number of shots fired at seven.

The attack and escape reportedly unfolded in less than three minutes. Police are investigating whether the gunman had help getting away.

The circumstances suggest a contract killing, although the motive remains unclear.

Sources close to the case told Informacion that a dispute between two Albanian family clans was one possible explanation.

Albanian outlet Pamfleti reported that Luka had previously been investigated in Albania and Italy over drug trafficking and organised crime.

According to that report, he was arrested in Vlora in 2019 during a joint Albanian-Italian operation targeting a network suspected of moving drugs, weapons and ammunition across the Adriatic.

Investigators alleged that the organisation had brought around 10 tonnes of drugs into Italy, principally marijuana shipped from Albania and initially stored in the southern region of Salento.

Pamfleti reported that Luka was sentenced in 2020 to four and a half years in prison and fined €24,000 for drug trafficking offences.

The investigation continues.