A "red notice" posted by Interpol had alerted Latvian authorities to the serious drugs charges he faced in New Zealand and the police successfully sought his extradition.
Two detectives from the Organised and Financial Crime Agency of New Zealand flew to the capital Riga last week to bring Karpavicius back.
The wealthy and well-connected figure was considered an extreme flight risk. He was taken through Germany to London, then Hong Kong, before arriving in Auckland.
The trip was planned so the time spent in transit at each airport was as little as possible, to limit his chances of escape.
Authorities in those countries declined to allow the police to place Karpavicius ina holding cell at each airport.
That meant he could not be let out of their sight during the 30-hour trip.
That was intended to avoid a repeat of an embarrassing incident six years ago, when two Auckland detectives deporting a Polish drug dealer, Rafal Luczynski, lost him at Heathrow Airport in 2006.
Karpavicius appeared in Auckland District Court on Thursday to face charges of importing a Class-A drug, importing a Class-B drug and money laundering.
He was remanded in custody until his next appearance.
Rokas Karpavicius
Born in Lithuania
2001: Leaves New Zealand.
2010: Identified in a High Court trial for Operation Keyboard as the alleged mastermind smuggling drugs into New Zealand.
2011: Arrested in Latvia on an Interpol warrant.
2012: Extradited back to New Zealand to face Operation Keyboard charges.
