Police in Bacoor City arrested three people, including a 19-year-old high school student, for allegedly selling an illicit tobacco product known as “Thuoc Lao” during a Christmas Eve buy-bust operation.
The operation Wednesday in Barangay Poblacion followed an investigation of a previously arrested drug suspect’s cellphone, which contained conversations about the sale of the product, also called “tuklaw” or black cigarettes, authorities said.
Officers seized two small black boxes labeled “Vegas Slims Pack” containing 14 rolled cigarettes with suspected dried Nicotiana rustica plant, and one plastic sachet of suspected dried marijuana leaves.
Police Lt. Col. Alexie Desamito, chief of the Bacoor City Police, said the suspects told investigators the items came from Metro Manila.
“Based on initial research, marijuana users are leveling up — now they prefer the effects of Thuoc Lao,” Desamito said.
Authorities said Thuoc Lao, a tobacco plant from Vietnam with a nicotine content as high as 9%, is relatively new in the Philippines and has been linked to incidents involving teenagers.
“It causes uncontrolled effects — they experience seizures, almost like zombies,” Desamito said. “That’s why some of them end up in accidents.”
Ordinary cigarettes contain an average of 1% to 3% nicotine, according to the National Tobacco Administration.
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