Phuket Tuk Tuk Driver Claims He Was Drugged and Robbed After Passenger Offered Coffee

A tuk tuk driver in Phuket reported losing valuables worth more than 300,000 baht after allegedly being given a drug-laced coffee by a female passenger.

The incident took place on June 4. The driver, identified as Somnuek, was later discovered unconscious inside his vehicle by passersby and was transported to a hospital for treatment. Officers from Patong Police Station visited him there to collect information about the case.

According to Somnuek, he picked up a Thai woman at around 9pm and drove her to a destination in Karon. After arriving, the passenger asked him to help film a video, and he agreed.

The woman then reportedly hired him again for another trip, this time to an area near Kalim School in Kathu district. Once they reached the destination, she offered him a cup of coffee and explained that she was planning to open a coffee shop. She asked him to taste the drink and share his opinion.

The driver told investigators that shortly after drinking the coffee, he began feeling unusually sleepy and soon lost awareness of what was happening around him.

When he eventually regained consciousness, he found himself still inside his vehicle and noticed that several valuable possessions had disappeared. Among the missing items were a gold necklace, a gold bracelet, and his mobile phone.

Somnuek believes the beverage may have contained an unknown substance and suspects he was robbed while unconscious.

According to Channel 8, the driver was initially unable to provide a complete statement because he remained confused and disoriented after the incident. He is continuing to receive medical care and has undergone examinations to determine whether any drugs or other substances were present in his body.

Meanwhile, a report published on June 7 by the Phuket Times and Phuket Andaman News Facebook page referenced a video circulating online that allegedly shows the driver sampling the coffee. In the footage, he can reportedly be heard commenting positively on the drink and saying that he regularly drinks coffee.

The origin of the video remains unclear. As of now, authorities have not released the results of the medical tests, and police have yet to provide any additional information regarding the investigation.