Wanted Peruvian gang leader Gianfranco Torres-Navarro has been arrested in the United States, officials said.
A statement from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said Torres-Navarro, 38, was detained in New York state after entering the country illegally at the Texas-Mexico border.
He is believed to be the leader of the Los Killers gang and is on Peru’s most wanted list.
ICE said he is being held in a federal detention facility pending immigration proceedings.
ICE said in a statement to the BBC that Torres-Navarro was first arrested on May 16 while illegally entering the United States and was issued a notice to appear for immigration proceedings.
ICE added that about two months later, authorities were notified that he was actually wanted in Peru, which led to his eventual arrest Wednesday in the town of Endicott during a “targeted enforcement operation.”
“Gianfranco Torres-Navarro poses a significant threat to our communities,” said Thomas Brophy, the state’s top immigration official.
“We will not allow New York to become a safe haven for dangerous non-citizens,” he added.
Mr Torres-Navarro reportedly fled Peru after allegedly killing a retired police officer in the South American country.
He was widely known in Peru as “Gianfranco 23,” an apparent reference to the number of his alleged victims.
