Fugitive drug boss Callum Gower nabbed in Cape Town on his way back to the UK in cuffs
A fugitive from the United Kingdom (UK) that was caught hiding out in the leafy suburbs of Cape Town, will be deported back to his home country on Friday to face the music.
Callum Gower, an alleged drug dealer, is wanted by UK authorities. He is currently being detained at Pollsmoor Prison after he was caught by the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) hiding out in Constantia.
Gower and his mother, Caroline Sevier, were arrested by Interpol in 2024, while respectively living in Constantia and Sea Point. They allegedly fled their home in Sussex after facing a string of drug charges.
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.
robin.francke@iol.co.za
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