Police from Mozambique, Lesotho, South Africa and Swaziland have seized more than 100 suspected stolen cars in a joint operation in southern Mozambique.

A Mozambican police spokesman, Nathaniel Macamo, said all the cars seized in the capital Maputo and two nearby cities, Matola and Xai-Xai, had South African number plates.

Mr Macamo said car theft had become a regional problem with signs that well-organised groups are involved.

He said the cars always have false documentation and are stolen to be sold in a foreign country.

"You can find, for instance, that cars stolen in South Africa that are sold in Zambia and Zimbabwe have passed through Mozambique," he told the AFP news agency.

The police spokesman said this is the second operation of its kind and they will continue until the crime syndicates are broken.

The first took place in August.

Car thefts are a major problem in South Africa