Two suspects wanted in connection with multiple murder and attempted murder cases were shot and killed during a shootout with police in Inanda, KZN, this morning.

Police say the suspects, aged 20 and 25, were located during an intelligence-driven operation in the Mzomusha area of Newtown C Section shortly after midnight, reports The Witness.

According to police, officers were searching for at least five suspects linked to several violent crimes in the area.

KZN provincial police spokesperson Robert Netshiunda says a drone assisted officers in locating two of the suspects, who were hiding inside a house.

“During an operation, which started just after midnight, two of the suspects were located at the Mzomusha area with the assistance of a drone,” says Netshiunda.

He states a shootout broke out when police approached the house.

“When police approached the house in which the suspects were hiding, a shootout ensued, which resulted in the two suspects sustaining fatal gunshot wounds,” says Netshiunda.

Police recovered two firearms from the suspects at the scene.

The search for the remaining suspects linked to the case is ongoing.

Operation Shanela nets thousands of arrests

The Inanda operation comes as police continue to intensify crime-fighting operations across KZN through Operation Shanela.

Nearly 12 000 suspects were arrested across KZN last month during the operation and routine policing operations.

Police also recovered 278 firearms, including 23 rifles, 8 shotguns and 10 homemade guns, as well as 3 824 rounds of ammunition.

Netshiunda says contact crimes accounted for the highest number of arrests, with 3 568 suspects detained.

“A total of 166 suspects were arrested for murder and 193 for attempted murder,” he concludes.

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