Polokwane - Contraband cigarettes, with an estimated street value of nearly R3.5 million, were seized in Limpopo on Tuesday, police said.
Contraband cigarettes worth more than R2.5m were found in a silver Volkswagen minibus in Hlanganani, Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said.
Police found the minibus parked in a bush.
“Investigations revealed that the car was rented in Cape Town and investigations are afoot to find the suspects.”
In a separate incident contraband cigarettes worth about R1m were seized in Giyani on Tuesday. Four Zimbabweans and a Malawian were arrested.
“Police again while on patrol noticed two vehicles, a Toyota Quantum and Hyundai sedan, speeding and immediately a car chase ensued,” said Mulaudzi.
“The suspects ignored police's signal to stop and at a distance the minibus stopped and two suspects were seen dashing away on foot.”
The car, suspected to have been used as an escort vehicle, was stopped and three women and two men were arrested.
Two people, who escaped on foot, were still at large.
The cigarettes in the minibus were seized.
Sapa