What was meant to be a quiet trip between provinces turned into a dramatic gold-smuggling bust when law enforcement officers intercepted two men allegedly transporting R16 million worth of unwrought gold in a high-stakes highway sting.
61-year-old Daniel Schubert and 49-year-old Adriaan Petrus du Plessis were arrested after a sharp-eyed, multidisciplinary police team—led by the Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation unit and supported by the Gauteng SAPS Flying Squad—acted on a tip-off that led to the seizure of 80 gold bars hidden in a grey BMW.
Each gold bar weighed 100 grams, totalling approximately 8 kilograms of suspected stolen treasure.
🚨 How It Went Down
According to authorities, the Germiston-based Hawks unit received intelligence about a vehicle traveling from the Free State to Gauteng, allegedly en route to offload stolen gold. Acting swiftly, officers intercepted the car on the R21 highway—a known trafficking corridor.
Inside the vehicle, officers uncovered a single bag packed with 80 glittering bars of unwrought gold. The suspects failed to provide any permits or documentation authorizing possession or transport of the bullion.
👨⚖️ Courtroom Drama Ahead
Both suspects appeared in the Kempton Park Magistrates’ Court, facing charges of unlawful possession of unwrought precious metal and possession of suspected stolen property. They were remanded in custody and are set to return to court on 22 May 2025 for a formal bail application.
The case is now under intense scrutiny, with investigators working to trace the origin of the gold and determine whether the suspects are part of a broader syndicate involved in South Africa’s growing underground gold economy.
⚖️ Gold Smuggling in SA: A Rising Concern
South Africa, rich in mineral resources, has long struggled with illegal mining and gold smuggling. The arrest adds to a growing list of high-profile busts as authorities intensify efforts to dismantle organised networks profiting from the country’s precious resources.
As the investigation continues, law enforcement sources hint that more arrests may follow, pointing to a larger operation behind the glittering contract.
