Thai police have arrested an alleged Australian drug dealer who had been on the run for five years.

Robert Gordon Pollybank Gee, 58, was detained by Thai police at a bar on the resort town of Phuket, as part of a joint operation with Australian Federal Police.

“He has been living in Phuket for about three years,” Police Major Nareuwat Phutwiro, an investigator with the Phuket Tourist Police, told the ABC.

“He came to Thailand with a fake passport, under a Canadian nationality.”

Gee was arrested with three other men in 2006 as part of a Drug Investigation Branch operation codenamed Crunch.

Reports from the time said police seized cocaine and methamphetamines worth $1.2 million, plus $264,000 in cash.

Despite facing serious charges, he was granted bail on a $10,000 surety and allowed to keep his passport.

Robert Gordon Pollybank Gee, 58, was first arrested in 2006. Photo: Crimestoppers

It is believed Gee fled Australia in 2011 when he learned that one of his co-accused — Leslie Graham Richards — had given police a detailed statement about his alleged key role in the drug syndicate.

“The next process would be granting criminal court documents to extradite him to Australia,” Major Nareuwat said.

“But before doing that the immigration officers and police will have to see if he would be charged for breaking Thai laws, such as illegal entry to Thailand.”

Mr Gee is being held at the Phuket court cells.

— ABC