US authorities catch Peruvian gang leader wanted for nearly two dozen murders in his home country

U.S. immigration officials on Wednesday arrested a Peruvian gang leader wanted for nearly two dozen murders in his home country.

Gianfranco Torres-Navarro, 38, was arrested in Endicott, New York, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said Thursday.

He will be held in a federal prison near Buffalo pending a hearing on his immigration issues, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said.

According to authorities, Torres-Navarro entered the United States illegally through the Texas-Mexico border on May 16. Fox News learned that he was arrested the same day by U.S. Border Patrol near Roma, Texas, and subsequently released into the United States with a summons to appear for immigration proceedings.

It took nearly two months for federal authorities to learn that Torres-Navarro was wanted in Peru for 23 murders. He is believed to have fled Peru after killing retired police officer Cesar Quegua Herrera in a San Miguel restaurant in March, Peruvian media reported.

ICE found and arrested him and his girlfriend Mishelle Sol Ivanna Ortíz Ubillús on Wednesday.

Peruvian authorities say Torres-Navarro is the leader of a gang called “Los Killers de Ventanilla y Callao,” which is accused of using violence to stop competitors who wanted to undermine its core business of extorting construction companies.

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Thomas Brophy, chief of the forced removals division at ICE's Buffalo field office, said Torres-Navarro poses a “significant threat to our communities, and we will not allow New York to become a safe haven for dangerous non-citizens.”

“Great job by our Buffalo ERO officers taking this man into custody,” Brophy said in a statement to Fox News.

Ortíz Ubillús is being held at a processing center in Pennsylvania, according to ICE's online Detainee Locator system.

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Peruvian authorities have described Ortíz Ubillús as Torres-Navarro's right-hand man, who is said to play an important role in Los Killers and be his deputy and cashier.

She also has a large following on the social media platform TikTok, where she flaunts her lavish lifestyle, which includes designer clothes, vacations at resorts, and target shooting at a shooting range.

Bill Melugin of Fox News and The Associated Press contributed to this report.