Luka Rocco Magnotta, the alleged Montreal dismemberer, arrived back in Canada after an unprecedented effort by officials, says an international law expert.

The accused killer arrived in Montreal by military jet in the custody of Montreal police and in the company of both German and Canadian officials, including RCMP officers and Canada Border Services Agency employees. On the tarmac, he was surrounded by armed guards and police vehicles before being placed in an unmarked burgundy van.

“It’s entirely exceptional,” said Vancouver lawyer Gary Botting, who wrote the Canadian Extradition Law Practice. “I’ve never heard of it.”

Botting said a typical extradition would be carried out on a commercial jet with one or two RCMP officers, even in high profile cases.

“Obviously paranoia is the word of the day.”

But of concern is whether officials have backpedalled on the extradition process, instead opting for a swifter option of deporting Magnotta in what is known as “disguised extradition,” Botting said.

“If they’ve done that they’d be in violation of international law,” he said.

The other option is if Magnotta waived his right to appeal the extradition in writing. Earlier, Magnotta had said he would not fight extradition to Canada.

“Either way, it’s not good for international law that extradition is being taken so lightly,” Botting said.

Officials released few details Monday following a statement from Minister of Justice Rob Nicholson and Minister of Public Safety Vic Toews, who indicated there would be no further comment as the case was before court.