POLICE, RANGERS SHOOT, KILL S. AFRICAN, SWAZI POACHERS

MBABANE – The still of the night was disturbed by gunshots that resulted in the death of three suspected poachers.

The alleged poachers were killed at Hlane Royal National Park on Saturday, just before midnight by armed police officers and rangers.
The names of the deceased men could not be established as police are still investigating the matter but it is believed that two of them were from South Africa and the other was a Swazi national.

Information gathered is that the police and the rangers received a tip-off from an anonymous source, who informed them that the alleged poachers would be at the game park to hunt for rhino horns.
A joint operation between Lubombo or not Serious Crimes unit (Lukhozi) and Big Game Parks worked together to capture the suspects only to discover that they were armed.

They trio is said to have been the first to open fire when the police and rangers approached them. 
Information gathered is that the altercation happened deep in the forests of the game park.

After the shooting, the police tried to search for the vehicle used by the three when they came to Hlane but it could not be found.
It is suspected that there were no other men accompanying the three.
All three died on the spot.

Big Game Park’s spokesperson Liz Reilly confirmed the shooting at Hlane after a joint operation between the police and rangers. “Three suspected rhino poachers were fatally wounded during an exchange of fire at Hlane Royal National Park just before midnight on Saturday.

“The contact occurred after a joint Lubombo Serious Crimes police unit and Big Game Parks operation encountered the three armed suspects deep within the park. Although the identity of the deceased suspects has not been confirmed, it is strongly suspected that there are South African nationals among them.

“A high powered hunting rifle, axes, a saw and other items known to be used for poaching rhinos were recovered on the scene. With the escalating levels of rhino poaching occurring mainly in KZN and Mpumalanga Provinces in South Africa, as well as seizures of rhino horn consignments internationally; Swaziland is extremely concerned that such practice may take root in Swaziland. Every effort must be made to keep the rhino poaching levels to a minimum to avoid Swaziland’s small rhino population from being poached out,” Reilly stated.

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