MANILA (August 16) – Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III has warned the public against smoking illegal Thuoc Lao cigarettes, locally known as “tuklaw,” saying continued use could be as deadly as other illegal drugs.
The PNP, through its Drug Enforcement Group, is working with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) to study the substance. PDEA and DDB earlier confirmed that tuklaw contains nicotine and a synthetic cannabinoid that can trigger psychotic episodes and hallucinations—effects similar to marijuana but more potent and dangerous.
Viral videos have shown users, particularly in BARMM, Palawan, and Taguig City, experiencing seizure-like symptoms after smoking tuklaw. In Puerto Princesa City, five students aged 19 to 25 were arrested in an August 11 buy-bust and charged under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act. Laboratory tests confirmed the presence of synthetic cannabinoid in the seized cigarettes, with further analysis sought from local and international forensic labs. Originating from Northern Vietnam, Thuoc Lao contains nicotine levels of up to 9 percent, compared to 1–3 percent in regular cigarettes. Traditionally smoked through a bamboo pipe, it can also be chewed in ritual practices.
