Amid a series of significant gains against cigarette smuggling, Philippine National Police acting chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said on Wednesday, January 7, that authorities are also closely monitoring the smuggling and proliferation of “Thuoc Lao,” or black cigarettes, in the country.
Nartatez said the PNP continues to intensify intelligence-gathering efforts in coordination with government agencies such as the Bureau of Customs and the Department of Health.
He said authorities have already seen the harmful effects of black cigarettes, describing the situation as alarming, and stressed that law enforcement agencies are working together to prevent the entry and spread of the product in the Philippines.
According to authorities, Thuoc Lao is a highly potent tobacco product from northern Vietnam that has recently appeared in the country. Its nicotine content can reach up to 9%, far higher than the one to 3% found in ordinary cigarettes, with some versions reportedly fortified with synthetic cannabinoids.
Police and health officials raised alarms after teenagers reportedly experienced seizure-like symptoms, including body jerks and involuntary twitching, after smoking the product. The National Tobacco Administration has not authorized Thuoc Lao for importation.
Authorities have seized large volumes of the contraband, including a recent operation in Bacoor City where three individuals were apprehended for allegedly selling the black cigarettes.
Nartatez said the PNP will further intensify operations and border patrols to curb the entry of illegal tobacco products.
His statement followed the interception of a boat carrying 332 master cases of undocumented cigarettes worth an estimated P21.25 million off Manalipa Island in Zamboanga City on January 6. Three suspects were arrested for failing to present proper documentation, and police are investigating possible links to earlier seizures in Batangas and Malabon.
