One of Australia’s most wanted alleged drug kingpins has been detained in Colombia.

Authorities said Australian-Iranian citizen Arash Ebrahimi Far, nicknamed “The Kid”, has been out of their reach and in “hiding” since December 2018.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Alleged Australian drug king pin detained in South America

Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today

It is alleged he was running a cartel-linked drug empire from his hideout in South America, and had been shipping drugs back to Western Australia.

Ebrahimi Far, known in the underworld by the alias “Ash”, has long been a target of WA Police.

He was taken into custody by Interpol as he left a South American hospital where he had been receiving treatment for a gunshot wound, authorities said.

Arash Ebrahimi Far has been arrested in Colombia. Credit: National Police of Colombia

The investigation into how he was shot is ongoing.

Colombia’s National Police said the arrest for extradition purposes was made with the support of Australian Federal Police.

Police said he was subject to an Interpol Red Notice for drug trafficking and money laundering allegations, and pointed to an international file accusing him of a leadership role within a transnational criminal organisation.

He is now awaiting possible extradition, and no timeline on that has been announced.