Why smokers suffered seizures after puffing on 'tuklaw' or black cigarette

Some smokers went into seizures and shook violently after smoking black cigarettes, known locally as tuklaw.

In a viral video, another smoker stiffened and cried after puffing tuklaw. Why?

According to Mark Salazar's report on "24 Oras," the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency said tuklaw had a higher nicotine concentration than regular cigarettes.

Still, this is not enough to cause convulsions.

“Posibleng mga cannabis, shabu, cocaine,  they also have hallucinogenic effects po…Depende sa katawan ng tao, ayun yung magiging epekto sa katawan ng tao, there will be seizure, there will be hallucinations,” PDEA spokesperson Joseph Calulot said.

(It's possible it could be cannabis, shabu, or cocaine – these also have hallucinogenic effects. The effects on a person's body will depend on the individual; there could be seizures and hallucinations.) 

The PDEA is awaiting the results of the laboratory tests conducted on the samples of the cigarette puffed by the minors in the viral video. 

PDEA said that the “black cigarette” originated in Northern Vietnam and is known there as “thuoc lao." It is much stronger as compared to normal tobacco cigarettes.

“That’s 9% yung nikotina niya as compared to regular cigarettes na around 1% to 3% nicotine lang. Doon mo makikita na mataas talaga ang concentration ng nicotine sa tuklaw cigarettes," Calulot said.

"Bakit mataas? Because of the plant na ginamit diyan, yung nicotiana rustica as compared to nicotiana tabacum na ayan yung ginagamit for ordinary cigarettes,” he added.

(That's 9% nicotine content, as compared to regular cigarettes which only have around 1% to 3% nicotine. From that, you can see that the nicotine concentration in ‘tuklaw’ cigarettes is really high. Why is it high? Because of the plant used for it, which is nicotiana rustica, as compared to nicotiana tabacum which is what's used for ordinary cigarettes.) 

The local police said that two of the three minors in the video admitted that they felt something off after puffing on “tuklaw.” 

“Ayon na rin po [roon] sa dalawang minors natin na victims, after nilang hithitin ‘yung alleged dini-describe nila na cigarette, doon na nagsimula mag-iba yung pakiramdam nila at ‘yun na po nag-start na po yung seizure like episodes nila o ‘yung panginginig ng katawan nila na hindi nila makontrol,” Police Major Ray Aron Elona said.

(According to our two minor victims, after they puffed the alleged cigarette they described, that's when they started to feel different, and their seizure-like episodes, or the uncontrollable trembling of their bodies, began.) 

“Tinanong naman natin ‘yung kasama rin nila na nanginginig may mga binabanggit naman siyang kung saan niya nakuha pero subject for investigation pa natin ma-confirm talaga natin kung kanino nanggangaling talaga itong alleged na sigarilyo na hinihit nila,” he added. 

(We asked their companion, who was also trembling, and they mentioned where they got it. However, it's still subject to investigation as we need to truly confirm where this alleged cigarette they were puffing came from.) 

Meanwhile, PDEA said that its investigation is ongoing on the case. It is also checking on the trade of “tuklaw” online, as it is not part of the cigarettes being regulated, it added. 

“Kailangan pa ng mas masusing imbestigasyon diyan kasi maaring naging adventurous lang itong mga ito. There could be a possibility na may nais mag-smuggle ng prohibited items sa bansa,” said Calulot. 

(A more thorough investigation is needed there because these individuals might just have been adventurous. There's also a possibility that someone intends to smuggle prohibited items into the country.) 

The Philippine National Police has formed a special task force to be led by the PNP Puerto Princesa City and will be guided by the PNP Mimaropa. –NB, GMA Integrated News