Who is Callum Gower? UK fugitive arrested in South Africa for drug trafficking

Callum Gower, a British national who has been on the run for several years, is scheduled to be extradited from South Africa to the United Kingdom this Friday to face serious criminal charges. The 28-year-old, accused of drug trafficking and related offences, was apprehended in 2024 in the affluent Cape Town suburb of Constantia while attempting to evade law enforcement.

Gower is currently being held at Pollsmoor Prison, awaiting formal handover to UK authorities. His capture was facilitated by the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol), following an extensive investigation into his movements across the Western Cape.

Gower’s mother, Caroline Sevier, was also detained by Interpol while residing in Sea Point. Both are believed to have fled their Sussex home after becoming embroiled in a series of criminal allegations in the United Kingdom, including drug distribution, money laundering, and assault with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

Eric Ntabazalila, spokesperson for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in the Western Cape, confirmed the extradition schedule. “Callum Gower will be formally handed over at Cape Town International Airport at 4pm. He will be escorted from Pollsmoor Prison and flown to the UK, with the departure scheduled for 6:55pm,” Ntabazalila stated.

The extradition process has been in motion since 2023, when the South African government received formal requests from the United Kingdom for both Gower and his mother. According to Ntabazalila, the requests were made through official diplomatic channels and detailed the nature of the offences for which the pair were wanted.

Documents submitted by UK authorities trace the investigation back to June 2020, when Gower first became the subject of an arrest warrant. Police raids at his Sussex residence reportedly uncovered cash totalling £23,075 (R543,753.15) and illegal substances valued at approximately £400,000 (R9,425,840).

Both Gower and Sevier appeared before local magistrates following their arrests in South Africa in January 2024, with courts ruling that they were suitable for extradition. The Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development issued a surrender order under Section 11(a) of the Extradition Act, 1962, on 13 August 2025, paving the way for their return to the UK.

Interpol’s National Central Bureau in Pretoria coordinated with British officials to arrange Gower’s formal handover, ensuring that security and legal protocols are strictly followed during the extradition process.