Minister of Police Fikile Mbalula has set up a tracking team to deal with a vehicle theft syndicate around Limpopo River to stop the smuggling of luxury vehicles into Zimbabwe and neighbouring countries.

At least three vehicles belonging to various car rental companies were this week recovered by police at the Limpopo River on the border with Zimbabwe.

"These guys, their job is to wake up and trace vehicles and suspects around the border.

"The team will work with other key stakeholders such as tactical response teams, public order police, the K9, and South African National Defence Force," said Mbalula's spokesman, Vuyo Mhaga.

He said the tracking team will target the areas along the borderline between Pafuri, Beitbridge and Pontdrift.

Limpopo police spokesman, Brigadier Motlafela Mojapelo, said police recovered a white Mercedes Benz on Wednesday that got stuck in the river bed in the process of being smuggled out of the country.

The car, which belongs to a rental company, was stolen in Durban.

"It was apparently being smuggled into Zimbabwe when it got stuck."

A 28-year-old suspect has been arrested. The operation also yielded good results when a Range Rover, valued at R900000, was intercepted en route to Malawi. The driver was arrested," he said.

The vehicle was about to cross Beitbridge border post. The driver was found in possession of R30000.

Mojapelo said the smuggling of vehicles across the Limpopo was of great concern for the police. He said there was no specific model targeted.

"A Ford Ranger was intercepted when the suspects were about to cross the Limpopo River. They fled into the bushes when police confronted them," Mojapelo said.

Other vehicles recovered during this operation were an Audi A6 valued at R400000, a Mercedes Benz C180 valued at R380000; and a Datsun Go, valued at R90000

The suspects are expected to appear in the Musina Magistrate's Court soon.