Foreign Man Suspected of Spray Attack on Phuket Pharmacist in Possible Robbery Attempt

A foreign man is suspected of spraying an unknown substance on a Thai pharmacist in Patong, Phuket, in what the victim believes may have been an attempted robbery.

The incident happened at around 12:22am on September 2 at Mookda Pharmacy in the Patong area. The pharmacist, Pijet Intarakaset, who runs the store, later described the incident on Facebook and shared screenshots from the pharmacy’s CCTV system.

According to the footage, the man arrived at the pharmacy on a motorcycle. He was wearing a blue long-sleeved shirt and long black trousers. A security camera also captured the motorcycle’s registration plate, which police are now using as part of their investigation.

Pijet told Channel 7 that the man appeared to be Arab. The foreigner reportedly entered the pharmacy and said that he had been assaulted by a taxi driver.

He initially asked to buy medicine for swelling as well as painkillers. However, he later cancelled the purchase, saying the medicines were too expensive. He reportedly believed they would cost only around 20 to 30 baht.

The man remained inside the pharmacy and continued talking with Pijet for some time. During their conversation, he reportedly took out cannabis and nicotine patches and showed them to the pharmacist.

Pijet became more suspicious when the man left the pharmacy and went to a motorcycle parked outside. He took a dark green cloth bag from the seat and then returned to the shop.

According to the pharmacist, the man then grabbed his hand and sprayed a substance onto it approximately five times, claiming that it was perfume. He subsequently sprayed the substance on Pijet’s body twice more.

Pijet said he soon began feeling dizzy and developed cold hands and feet, a rapid heartbeat and tightness in his chest. Fearing that he could lose consciousness, he chased the man out of the pharmacy.

The pharmacist immediately contacted Patong Hospital for medical assistance. After his condition improved, he went to Patong Police Station and filed a complaint, saying he suspected that the spray had been used as part of an attempt to steal from him.

Pijet also said a medical team told him that another pharmacist had been admitted to hospital on the same day with similar symptoms. He subsequently shared the incident online to warn other pharmacists.

Police are working to identify and locate the foreign man. Investigators are examining CCTV footage from the pharmacy and the motorcycle registration information captured by the security camera.

The substance used in the incident has not yet been identified, and police have not confirmed whether it was harmful.