By Priam Nepomuceno | Philippine News Agency
The Northern Luzon Naval Command (NLNC), together with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), intercepted about 1.5 tons of suspected shabu off the coast of Zambales province early Friday.
An initial statement from the Philippine Navy (PN) said the seized narcotics had an estimated street value of P10 billion.
“The PN, through the NLNC, apprehended 1.5 tons of methamphetamine hydrochloride or ‘shabu’ with an estimated street value of 10 billion pesos off the coast of Zambales at around 1:30 a.m., June 20, 2025. The case build up and subsequent successful apprehension was a joint operation between NLNC and the PDEA,” it said.
The Navy said the seized suspected shabu is now on its way to Naval Operating Base—Subic for documentation and turnover to proper authorities.
“This is one of the largest illegal drug apprehensions in the history of the PN in support of the National Government’s campaign against prohibited substances. Other details to follow,” it added.
In a press briefing, NLNC chief Cdre. Edward Ike De Sagon said the successful interdiction of the illegal drugs underscores the PN’s commitment in securing the country’s maritime domain and protecting communities from the threat of illegal drugs.
The operation also shows the Navy’s support in the government’s campaign against “prohibited substance(s).”
De Sagon also said the illegal drugs were intercepted aboard a Philippine fishing vessel.
“But it is currently with a Philippine fishing vessel that was, when we say intercepted there (was) information, that in instances that made us suspicious of the movement of that fishing vessel so we conducted that operation.We intercepted it off the coast of Zambales,” he said, adding that the vessel was around 50 nautical miles away from the coast.
Arrested aboard the fishing vessel were four Filipino citizens and one foreign national.
De Sagon said the identities of the suspects would be known once the fishing vessel docks along Naval Operating Base-Subic within the day.
He said it is likely that the suspects were lured by the promises of large sums of money on transporting the contraband.
“Because of the lure of big money, kung minsan pumapatol sila without knowing that they are doing illegal things like this. That’s just speculation. We will know that matter pagka-dumikit na po sila at makausap na po natin ’yong mga fishermen,” he added.
De Sagon said they ramped up patrol operations following the recovery of huge amounts of illegal drugs in the country’s northern provinces early this month.
“So with that incident, we began to be more vigilant. And so, some of the information will be held to protect certain personalities or it will be divulged later in due time. I wouldn’t want to preempt the results of any investigation or the authorized investigating body for this,” he added.
De Sagon added their suspicion on the particular fishing vessel was further enhanced when they spotted it operating quite far from similar craft.
Asked if the fishing vessel was the one transferring the illegal drugs from another ship, the NLNC official said this is not clear yet as of this time.
De Sagon also believes the fishing vessel was headed to the country’s west coast and possibly will unload its illegal cargo there when intercepted.
“There (was) information, intel reports pointing towards that scenario so we acted on it,” he added.
Also, De Sagon said the intercepting naval vessels were two gunboats under his command.
However, the NLNC chief did not give the names of these vessels and their speeds for security reasons.
“There are two. I decided to have two, mag-aalalay in case na things could go sideways,” he added.
