The Philippine National Police (PNP) warned smokers against trying the viral “tuklaw” cigarette as it vowed to intensify the campaign against individuals and groups that are allegedly trying to distribute it across the country.

PNP chief Gen. Nicolas Torre III said the intensified campaign against “tuklaw” cigarettes has already been included in the operations against smuggled cigarettes and even in anti-illegal drugs operations.

In fact, Torre said at least people were already arrested in the aggressive drive since the viral video of the effects of the cigarettes wherein several teenagers were seen manifesting seizure-like symptoms characterized by brief, shock-like body jerks and twitches after smoking “tuklaw”.

“My goodness! There is a reason why it is being declared as illegal, it’s because first and foremost and maybe the only and most important reason is it is dangerous. They should not even try it to protect themselves from harm,” said Torre.

“Why would they even try it when they could even die. So I would like to tell our kababayan not to fall victim because this could endanger your lives,” he added.

On the part of the PNP, he said it is coordinating with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in the campaign to run after those smuggling “tuklaw” and distributing the cigarettes across the country.

“We are identifying the origin and the illicit trading routes,” said Torre.

PDEA Director General Isagani Nerez said “Thuoc Lao” is a tobacco plant grown in the mountains of Northern Vietnam and locally it can either be smoked or chewed as part of their rituals.

He said the traditional way of smoking tobacco is using a pipe called a bamboo bong.

The nicotine content of “Thuoc Lao”, according to Nerez, can reach as high as nine percent compared to the ordinary cigarettes which has an average of one to three percent only.

“These deadly cigarettes laced with synthetic cannabinoid are obviously smuggled goods and reportedly sold online. PDEA warns the public not to patronize ‘tuklaw’ because of the serious health risks involved. To all the parents, please advise your children not to even try it”, said Nerez.

“Be also wary of individuals who practice shotgun smoking, or forcibly blowing ‘tuklaw’ fumes into another person’s mouth who then inhales it”, he added.