PDEA begins crackdown on ‘tuklaw’ or black cigarette

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has begun its crackdown against ‘tuklaw’ or black cigarettes following a viral video that showed that it caused seizures to some smokers.

In Marisol Abdurahman’s Wednesday report on “24 Oras,” individuals using and selling black cigarettes will be detained and face charges.

PDEA director general General Isagani Nerez said the black cigarettes from Palawan and Quezon City were positive for a synthetic ingredient called cannabinoid, which is considered a dangerous drug.

“Because it is dangerous drugs and it is the same with the provision of Republic Act 9165, yung ating Dangerous Drugs law. Yan, pag nagbenta ka, you will be charged for selling. And pag gumamit ka, then you will be charged for use,” Nerez said.

(Because it is a dangerous drug, it falls under the provisions of Republic Act 9165, or the dangerous drugs law. If you sell, you will be charged for selling. And if you were caught using it, then you will be charged for drug use.)

PDEA is also focused on investigating where the black cigarettes came from. Although based on their information, it came from another country.

Nerez said black cigarettes are in the country to entice tourists to use it as a remembrance or souvenir for free.

PDEA admitted that it is challenged in determining the source of black cigarettes, which are mixed with synthetic cannabinoids or chemicals.

Nerez said there are no synthetic cannabinoids in the country, so it could be sourced and smuggled from another country.

“It's a new drug. Synthetic pa naman ito. Minsan nahirapan na i-detect (it’s synthetic, which could sometimes be difficult to detect),” Nerez said.

However, PDEA said it has a theory on detecting the substance after a synthetic cannabinoid was recently seized in Clark, Pampanga.

Some lawmakers expressed concern over the black cigarettes during the House Committee on Dangerous Drugs meeting.

PDEA and other law enforcement agencies continue with their coordination and investigation to curb the spread of black cigarettes. — Mariel Celine Serquiña/BAP, GMA Integrated News