A suspected illegal cigarette smuggling suspect has been killed and three others arrested following a high-speed police chase outside Polokwane in Limpopo.

According to Hlulani Mashaba, spokesperson for the provincial police, the suspected members of a smuggling gang were intercepted last night on the R519 road between Polokwane and Zebediela following a tip-off.

The deceased suspect died after the car they were riding in collided with a truck during the chase.

Mashaba says five other suspects managed to escape in another car.

“We have intercepted a smuggling syndicate here on the R519 road as you leave Polokwane towards the Zebediela police area location. In the process, a high-speed chase ensued which resulted in one of the masterminds of the illegal smuggling of cigarettes being involved in a very, very horrible accident: a collision with a truck. There were other cars that we were following and we managed to arrest three suspects. Those suspects are illegal foreigners.”

Meanwhile, five suspects have been arrested in Johannesburg following a failed kidnapping attempt after police received a tip-off.

A South African woman who worked with the syndicate planned to kidnap her employer and force him to withdraw large sums of money from his business bank account.

Following the evacuation operation, two South Africans, two Ugandans and one Malawian were arrested.

According to Athlenda Mathe, spokeswoman for the national police, the five suspects have been arrested for conspiracy to commit kidnapping and extortion.

“A mock kidnapping was planned in close cooperation with the target. The SAPS can confirm that following this successful mock kidnapping, five suspects were arrested when they attempted to access the money that had been transferred following the kidnapping of this female employer. The suspects were arrested at their meeting place in Melrose Arch.”

Kidnappings have increased dramatically in South Africa over the past decade: Chad Thomas