U.S. captures wanted Peruvian gang leader in New York after unlawful southwest border crossing

U.S. law enforcement officials who were alerted about a wanted Peruvian gang leader, captured the internationally renowned fugitive in New York State after he entered the country illegally, according to a statement from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Gianfranco Torres-Navarro, 38, has been wanted by Peruvian officials and was targeted for arrest after he reportedly entered the country unlawfully at the Texas-Mexico border on May 16, ICE officials said.

The notorious Peruvian gang leader is the head of the infamous Los Killers gang and is on Peru's wanted list and is now incarcerated at a federal detention facility awaiting immigration proceedings, ICE said.

ICE said Torres-Navarro was captured on 16 May upon unlawfully entering the U.S. and was also served a notice to appear for immigration proceedings, according to a report published by the BBC.

Two months later, U.S. officials were told the gang leader was wanted for criminal prosecution in Peru, which led to his capture in the New York town of Endicott during a “targeted enforcement action” on Wednesday, the federal immigration law enforcement agency added.

"Gianfranco Torres-Navarro poses a significant threat to our communities," senior state immigration official Thomas Brophy said. "We won’t allow New York to be a safe haven for dangerous non-citizens."

Torres-Navarro reportedly fled South America after he was accused of murdering a retired police officer in Peru.

He is widely known in his homeland as Gianfranco 23, a reference to the number of alleged victims he has killed.