Joe McConnell
Wanted Peruvian gang leader Gianfranco Torres-Navarro has been arrested in the United States, authorities say.
Torres-Navarro, 38, was arrested in New York state after illegally entering the country across the Texas-Mexico border, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said in a statement.
He is believed to be the leader of the Los Killers gang and is wanted by Peru.
He is now being held in a federal detention center awaiting immigration proceedings, ICE said.
In a statement sent to the BBC, ICE said Torres-Navarro was arrested on Wednesday in the city of Endicott during a “targeted law enforcement action” after authorities were notified that he was wanted in Peru.
He had previously been arrested on May 16 for illegally entering the United States and was served with a notice to appear in immigration proceedings, ICE added.
“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 foreign nationals,” he added.
Mr Torres-Navarro is said to have fled Peru after allegedly killing a retired police officer in the South American country.
In Peru he is known as Gianfranco 23, a number that appears to refer to his alleged victims.
