Wanted Peruvian gang leader arrested in the USA

Wanted Peruvian gang leader Gianfranco Torres-Navarro was arrested in the United States, officials said.

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 considered the leader of the gang Los Killers and is on the Peruvian wanted list.

He is currently being held in a federal prison pending the completion of immigration proceedings, immigration authorities said.

In a statement sent to the BBC, ICE said Torres-Navarro was first arrested on May 16 while illegally entering the United States and was issued a summons for immigration proceedings.

About two months later, authorities were informed that he was indeed wanted in Peru, which ultimately led to his arrest in the town of Endicott on Wednesday as part of a “targeted enforcement action,” ICE added.

“Gianfranco Torres-Navarro poses a significant threat to our communities,” said Thomas Brophy, the state’s chief immigration officer.

“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.

In Peru he is widely known as Gianfranco 23, which appears to be a reference to the number of his alleged victims.