Phuket tuk tuk driver says valuables worth more than 300,000 baht were stolen after passenger gave him coffee

A tuk tuk driver in Phuket told police that valuables worth more than 300,000 baht went missing after a female passenger allegedly gave him coffee that left him unusually drowsy.

The incident happened on June 4. The driver, identified as Somnuek, was later found unconscious inside his vehicle and was taken to hospital by bystanders. Officers from Patong Police Station visited him there to collect details.

Somnuek said he picked up a Thai woman at about 9pm and dropped her off in Karon subdistrict. He told police that she then asked him to help record a video of her, and he agreed.

He said the woman later hired him again to drive to another location near Kalim School in Kathu district. After they arrived, she reportedly offered him coffee and asked him to taste it, saying she planned to open a coffee shop and wanted his opinion.

Somnuek said he began to feel unusually drowsy after drinking the coffee and could not remember what happened next. When he regained consciousness in his vehicle, he found that several belongings were missing, including a gold necklace, a gold bracelet and a mobile phone.

He told police he suspected the drink had been spiked and that he was robbed while unconscious.

According to Channel 8, Somnuek was still disoriented when police first questioned him and could not provide a full account. He remains under medical treatment and has undergone tests to determine whether any substances were present in his system.

A June 7 report from the Phuket Times and Phuket Andaman News Facebook page said a video circulating online showed the driver tasting the coffee and commenting on its flavour. In the clip, he is heard saying he regularly drinks coffee and approves of the drink.

The source of the video has not been disclosed. Medical test results had not been released, and police had not provided further updates on the case as of the latest report.