Fugitive Callum Gower to be extradited from South Africa to the UK
Callum Gower, after he was arrested by Interpol in Constantia in 2024.
Image: Supplied
A fugitive from the United Kingdom (UK), Callum Gower, is set to be deported back to his home country on Friday to face serious charges. The alleged drug dealer was apprehended in the leafy suburbs of Cape Town, where he was hiding from authorities.
Currently detained at Pollsmoor Prison, Gower was caught by the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) in Constantia. In 2024, both Gower and his mother, Caroline Sevier, were arrested by Interpol while living in Constantia and Sea Point, respectively.
They are believed to have fled their home in Sussex after being implicated in a series of drug-related offences.
The Western Cape spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Eric Ntabazalila, confirmed the extradition.
“Fugitive Callum Gower, wanted by UK authorities, will be surrendered at Cape Town International Airport at 4pm today and his flight will depart at 6.55pm. He will first be released from Pollsmoor Prison and escorted to the airport where he will be handed over at the airport,” he said.
In 2023, the South African government received a request for Gower’s and his mother, Sevier’s, extradition.
“They were wanted on charges of assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, money laundering, and drug trafficking. The request came from the United Kingdom government through diplomatic channels,” Ntabazalila said.
In the extradition application, UK authorities outlined the details of the investigation into the fugitives.
In a statement by the Chief Crown Prosecutor, the information compiled in the application dated back to June 2020, when a warrant of arrest was issued for Gower.
During raids on his home in Sussex, police confiscated £23,075 (R543,753.15) in cash and drugs valued at nearly £400,000 (R9,425,840).
“On January 26, 2024, Gower was arrested in Constantia and appeared at the Wynberg Magistrate’s Court while his mother was arrested in the Cape Town central business district (CBD) and appeared at Cape Town Magistrates Court. Subsequent to their appearance in the respective courts, they were both found extraditable,” Ntabazalila said.
The Minister of Justice in Constitutional Development issued a surrender order under Section 11(a) of the Extradition Act, 1962 (ACT 67 of 1962) on August 13, 2025.
“Upon receipt of the order to surrender by the Minister, Interpol NCB Pretoria made arrangements with UK authorities for an official handing over at Cape Town Airport (on September 12, 2025),” Ntabazalila said.
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