Philippine Navy seizes P10B worth shabu off Zambales coast

Early Friday morning, the Philippine Navy intercepted approximately 1.5 tons of suspected shabu off the coast of Zambales with an estimated street value of P10 billion.

This seizure marks one of the largest drug hauls in the history of the Philippine Navy and was conducted in coordination with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

The drugs were discovered aboard a Philippine-registered fishing vessel around 1:30 am, where authorities also apprehended four Filipino fishermen and one foreign national.

No weapons were found on board during the operation, which involved two gunboats conducting a Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure (VBSS) operation.

The confiscated drugs are currently being transported to Naval Operating Base Subic for documentation before turnover to concerned authorities while further interrogation of the crew will determine their involvement in the illegal activity.

PDEA Director General Undersecretary Isagani Nerez stated that the delivery was done under cover of darkness to evade detection, underscoring the importance of strong patrolling capabilities and interagency coordination.

Commodore Edward Ike De Sagon emphasized that this successful operation highlights the Navy's commitment in securing the maritime domain and protecting communities from illegal drugs.