PDEA warns of 'tuklaw,' black cigarettes with synthetic cannabinoids

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has issued a warning about 'tuklaw' or black cigarettes containing synthetic cannabinoids, found in Palawan and Quezon City.

According to PDEA spokesperson Joseph Calulut, these illicit cigarettes are dark in color and stuffed with Nicotiana rustica, a wild tobacco variety with higher nicotine content than regular tobacco.

PNP chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III warned against the use of 'tuklaw' after viral videos showed it causing seizures in some smokers; four individuals involved in its distribution have been arrested by police.

The PNP Drug Enforcement Group (PDEG) is now coordinating with the PDEA and the Dangerous Drugs Board to investigate possible illegal origins and smuggling routes from another country, targeting tourists as potential buyers.

Five students aged 19 to 25 were arrested in Puerto Princesa City over alleged involvement in 'tuklaw' proliferation; confirmatory tests using GC-MS confirmed the presence of synthetic cannabinoids.