Australian-Iranian drug suspect arrested in Colombian hospital after gunshot injury
Arash Ebrahimi Far, an alleged drug kingpin wanted by Western Australia, was captured in Colombia as he left a hospital where he had been treated for gunshot wounds.
Colombian authorities, in cooperation with the Australian Federal Police and Interpol, arrested Arash Ebrahimi Far as he attempted to leave a hospital in the municipality of Copacabana after receiving treatment for gunshot injuries. The Australian-Iranian, known in criminal circles as "Ash" and nicknamed "The Kid," has been on the run in Colombia since December 2018 and was listed on an Interpol Red Notice for drug trafficking and money laundering.
Colombian officials called him a top leader of a transnational criminal network capable of moving large volumes of narcotics, handling millions in cash, and maintaining an arsenal of firearms, using encrypted communications to evade detection. Western Australian police have pursued him for years, and the WA Police Commissioner has emphasized the challenge of securing his return. The fugitive is now awaiting a decision on extradition to Australia, where prosecutors intend to bring him to trial.
Why it matters
The arrest could dismantle a major drug trafficking operation and bring a high-profile criminal to justice.
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