FIVE suspected rhino poachers were shot and fatally wounded in a shoot-out with police along the R618 in the Zululand region on Saturday evening.

According to police reports, the SAPS had gathered intelligence that the suspects were travelling along the R618 towards a game reserve.

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“A stop-and-search operation was set up along the road and when the suspects arrived at the roadblock, a shoot-out ensued,” said the SAPS in a statement on Sunday morning.

The suspects were found in possession of a hunting rifle with silencer and two pistols.

The police statement confirmed that no SAPS members were wounded during the shoot-out.

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