Five suspected rhino poachers were shot dead during a confrontation with police in Hluhluwe, northern KwaZulu-Natal, on Saturday night.
KwaZulu-Natal police said officers acted on intelligence indicating that a group of suspects was travelling along the R618 towards a game reserve.
A stop-and-search operation was set up on the route, and a shootout broke out when the suspects reached the police roadblock.
Rhino Poaching Suspects Armed With Rifle And Pistols
KwaZulu-Natal police spokesperson Colonel Robert Netshiunda said all five suspects were fatally wounded during the exchange of gunfire.
“Police gathered intelligence that the suspects were travelling along the R618 Road towards a game reserve. A stop and search operation was set up along the same road and when the suspects arrived at the roadblock, a shootout ensued between police and the suspects.
“Five suspects were shot and fatally wounded, and they were found in possession of a hunting rifle with a silencer and two pistols. No police officer was injured during the shootout,” Robert Netshiunda said.
Police believe the group was on its way to target rhino in one of the protected wildlife areas in the region, which is home to several game reserves and remains a hotspot for poaching activity.
Recent Police Shootout In Durban Claimed Four Wanted Suspects
The incident follows another deadly police operation in KwaZulu-Natal last month, when four wanted suspects were killed in a shootout in Durban.
The confrontation took place in Bellair after Crime Intelligence officers tracked down suspects linked to several violent crimes, including murder, attempted murder of police officers, car and truck hijackings, and business and house robberies.
“Crime Intelligence officers spotted the suspects in the vicinity of Bellair, and the information was operationalised.
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The suspects, who were tormenting the communities of Mbumbulu, KwaMakhutha, Ntuzuma, and Folweni, defied police orders to stop, and a high-speed vehicle chase ensued, which ended at a house that the suspects were using as a hideout spot,” Netshiunda said.
KwaZulu-Natal police have intensified intelligence-led operations aimed at tackling organised crime and protecting the province’s wildlife and communities.
