Australia's most wanted fugitive landed in Melbourne on a flight from Greece amid tight security on Saturday, more than two years after fleeing his homeland.

Convicted drug lord and accused murderer Tony Mokbel arrived in a Gulfstream jet chartered by Australian authorities to bring the gangland kingpin home.

Widely known as "Fat Tony," Mokbel, 42, faces 15 charges including murder and drug trafficking.

Mokbel skipped bail in Melbourne in early 2006 just before being sentenced to nine years in jail for importing cocaine.

He spent 15 months on the run before being arrested in the affluent Athens suburb of Glyfada last June.

A woman believed to be Mokbel's girlfriend and a six-month-old girl were also found in a Glyfada house.

Mokbel appealed against extradition, arguing that his life could be in danger back home because his name has been linked to a police bribery probe, and claiming he would not get a fair trial in Australia.

The Greek Supreme Court turned down his request in March.

Australian authorities staged a major security operation for Mokbel's arrival and he is believed to have been taken by helicopter to the high-security Barwon prison outside Melbourne.

Media were kept well away from Mokbel's plane and federal Attorney-General Bob Debus said details of his arrival were kept secret for security reasons.

"I understand the high level of interest in the matter but for the protection of the officers involved in Mokbel's return, no comment can be made about the logistics of the flight from Greece," Debus said in a statement.

He thanked Greek authorities for ensuring Mokbel's return.

"This extradition demonstrates how important international legal cooperation is in ensuring criminals can't evade justice simply by crossing borders," he said.