The Philippine Navy seized P10 billion worth of illegal drugs aboard a fishing boat off the coast of Zambales early Friday, with its spokesman saying this ''one of the largest illegal drug apprehensions''.

Captain John Percie Alcos said 1.5 tons of metamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu with an estimated street value of P10 billion was seized by the Northern Luzon Naval Command off the coast of Zambales around 1:30 am.

Northern Luzon Naval Command Chief Commodore Edward Ike De Sagon said the fishing boat was intercepted by a Philippine Navy gunboat around 50 to 60 nautical miles from the coast of Zambales. It was manned by Filipino fishermen and a foreigner.

"I don't have the (exact) number yet but definitely there is one foreigner involved here," Sagon said when asked how many Filipino fishermen were aboard the apprehended fishing vessel.

Sagon said based on the latest report, "the drugs were from a ship and transferred to the fishing vessel". He noted that when the Philippine Navy intercepted the fishing vessel the ship where the drugs came from was no longer there.

"We observed this particular vessel that is by itself, operating far from other fishing vessels, normally fishing vessels are working together and this particular vessel is far. So it makes us think that there is something wrong or something suspicious," he said.

Alcos said "the case build up and subsequent successful apprehension was a joint operation between North Luzon Naval Company and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

"The apprehended illegal substance is currently on its way to Naval Operating Base - Subic for documentation and turn-over to proper authorities," he said.

Late last month a group of fishermen from Bataan recovered P1.5 billion worth of shabu floating off the waters of Masinloc, Zambales. They turned over the illegal drugs to the government authorities early this month. Robina Asido/DMS