Los Angeles: The 30-year saga involving accused international marijuana smuggler and Australia fugitive Peyton Eidson appears set to end in a San Francisco court next month with a surprise guilty plea.

Eidson, a 72-year-old American citizen who allegedly lived a secret life with his family and operated a health spa in the north Queensland town of Julatten while on the run from US authorities, was arrested in Australia in 2011.

The Alaska Cannabis Cultivators in Fairbanks, Alaska. Credit:Eric Engman

He has been in a California jail since his extradition to the US almost three months ago.

Eidson entered not guilty pleas to drug importation and false passport charges in the US District Court in San Francisco on September 1 but in a new court filing US prosecutors and his lawyer indicated a plea deal may be agreed to.