A Peruvian gang leader, believed to have been involved in around 23 killings in Peru, was apprehended on Wednesday in New York by U.S. immigration officers. Gianfranco Torres-Navarro, the alleged head of the gang “Los Killers,” who reportedly bears tattoos with the names of his victims, was captured in Endicott, New York, approximately 145 miles northwest of New York City, as stated on Thursday by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Torres-Navarro, aged 38, is currently held at a federal detention center close to Buffalo, awaiting an immigration hearing, ICE announced.

Torres-Navarro illegally entered the U.S. via the Texas-Mexico border on May 16. He was detained on the same day and was issued a notice to attend immigration proceedings, ICE reported. ICE decided to arrest Torres-Navarro after being informed on July 8 that he was a wanted individual in Peru. Thomas Brophy, the director of enforcement removal operations for ICE’s Buffalo field office, emphasized that Torres-Navarro presents a significant danger to the community, and they will not tolerate New York becoming a sanctuary for dangerous noncitizens.

The arrest was a result of collaborative efforts and thorough investigative work by ICE officials. The Associated Press reporters Carolyn Thompson and Phil Marcelo provided valuable contributions to this report.