ILOILO City – The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Region 6 has sounded the alarm on the looming threat of “tuklaw” or “thuoc lao” cigarettes — deadly contraband laced with synthetic cannabinoids — even as it assured that Western Visayas remains free of the illicit product.
Regional Director Ralph Rommel Torres confirmed that while the region has not recorded any cases, the agency has intensified monitoring following a nationwide alert from the PDEA central office and the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB).
Laboratory findings revealed the cigarettes contain synthetic chemicals designed to mimic marijuana but with far stronger and riskier effects.
“As of today, we have not received any report of ‘tuklaw’ in Western Visayas. We assure the public that PDEA is closely watching, and we are in coordination with local law enforcement units to prevent the entry of these harmful cigarettes in our region,” Torres told reporters.
He warned parents and communities that the smuggled version of the Vietnamese “thuoc lao” is far from traditional tobacco.
“These are obviously illegal and very risky. Parents should warn their children not to experiment with them because they can cause seizures, hallucinations, and even psychotic episodes,” Torres said.
National PDEA earlier confirmed that nicotine levels in “thuoc lao” can reach up to nine percent — three times higher than regular cigarettes — and worse, the product tested positive for synthetic cannabinoids. These chemicals have already triggered seizure-like episodes among Filipino teenagers in viral news reports.
“These deadly cigarettes are reportedly being sold online, which makes them accessible even to the youth. Another disturbing practice is what we call ‘shotgun smoking,’ where fumes are forcibly blown into another person’s mouth to inhale,” the national PDEA warned.
To counter the threat, the PDEA and DDB are fast-tracking steps to classify synthetic cannabinoids under the list of dangerous drugs covered by Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.
DDB officials emphasized the review is grounded on science, global control standards, and seizure data.
Torres assured that preventive measures are in full swing.
“Here in Western Visayas, we are strengthening community information campaigns and coordination with schools, barangays, and the local government units. Our goal is not only to intercept these substances but to ensure that people, especially our youth, know the dangers involved,” he said.
DDB chairperson Secretary Oscar Valenzuela said the end goal is clear: “The ultimate intention is to safeguard the welfare and interest of the general public against the threats and dangers of potentially addictive and harmful substances.”
Torres reinforced the warning, vowing vigilance at all fronts: “We want to assure our communities that as of now, there are no cases here. But we are not complacent—we continue to monitor and will act swiftly if any attempt is made to smuggle these into our region.”/PN
