12 nabbed in Laguna drug raids

LAGUNA, Philippines – Police arrested 12 persons, including a suspected leader of a criminal syndicate, during separate raids in Calamba Friday.

Norberto Austria was tagged as one of two leaders of the Austria drug gang, which is included in the police’s list of criminal syndicates, provincial police director Senior Superintendent Florendo Saligao said.

He said the gang was reportedly engaged in illegal drug trafficking in the province’s second district and involved in a series of murders.

Saligao said the group was behind the killing of an informant of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and a caretaker of a businessman last year.

Austria’s brother, Michael, who was also identified as the brains behind the gang’s operations, managed to escape during a raid on their safehouse in Barangay Sirang-Lupa, said city police chief Superintendent Marvin Saro.

Several plastic sachets containing shabu were seized from the suspect.

In Barangay Canlubang, anti-narcotics operatives arrested 11 drivers who were caught engaging in a pot session inside a passenger jeepney.

Saro said the drivers would be charged with illegal drug possession.