Manila: Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III has issued a public warning regarding the dangers of smoking illegal Thuoc Lao cigarettes, also known as ‘tuklaw’. He emphasized that continued consumption of these cigarettes could be as deadly as other illegal drugs.

According to Philippines News Agency, the PNP Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) has been actively collaborating with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) to investigate the composition and effects of “tuklaw”. PDEA and DDB have previously identified that “tuklaw” contains not only nicotine but also a synthetic cannabinoid, which can induce psychotic episodes and hallucinations. These effects are similar to those of marijuana but are reportedly more potent and hazardous.

Reports have surfaced, supported by several viral videos, showing individuals who smoked “tuklaw” experiencing seizure-like symptoms. These symptoms, observed in regions such as the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Palawan, and Taguig City, include brief, shock-like body jerks and twitches.

A significant incident occurred in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, where five students, aged 19 to 25, were arrested during a buy-bust operation on August 11. These individuals were allegedly involved in the distribution of “tuklaw” and have been charged under Republic Act 9165, also known as the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

Further investigations, including confirmatory tests using Gas Chromatograph – Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) on seized “tuklaw” cigarettes, have confirmed the presence of a synthetic cannabinoid. To ensure accurate results, the PDEA Laboratory Service has enlisted the help of international and domestic forensic laboratories.

The PDEA has traced the origin of Thuoc Lao to a tobacco plant grown in the mountains of Northern Vietnam. Traditionally, it is either smoked or chewed in rituals using a bamboo bong. Notably, the nicotine content of Thuoc Lao can reach up to nine percent, significantly higher than the average one to three percent found in ordinary cigarettes.