Police in South Africa have arrested five people, including a Zimbabwean woman, for allegedly smuggling cigarettes from Zimbabwe to South Africa.

The wide gap between tobacco taxes in the two countries has for some years created an opportunity for cigarette smugglers to earn large profits in South Africa, and the ban on cigarette sales during the South African lockdown has seen black market prices in South Africa rocket.

Brigadier Mojapelo said three suspects were arrested in Modimolle on Saturday while the Zimbabwean and her accomplices were picked up in Botlokwa north of Polokwane on Sunday morning.

He said the two were carrying an assortment of illicit cigarettes and alcohol when they sped off from a road block along the N1 highway before they were cornered by traffic police and the crime prevention police officers.

"The vehicle was then searched and the illicit cigarettes and alcohol were found hidden inside and the two suspects were immediately apprehended".