A Phuket ride-hailing driver was taken to hospital after becoming dizzy, weak and short of breath while carrying four foreign men in Patong on Saturday, September 12.
The woman believes the passengers may have sprayed her with a substance in an attempt to drug her, although police had not confirmed the allegation and no substance had been identified.
The case emerged after the Phuket Times Facebook page reported it on September 13. The incident was said to have happened at about 9pm on Patong Road.
Driver became ill after refusing offers
According to the report, the female driver collected four men she described as Middle Eastern, from a hotel in the Patong area.
During the journey, the men began speaking with her and offered her a sweet which appeared to be candy. She declined and continued driving.
The group then reportedly invited her to join them at an entertainment venue on Bangla Road. She refused again, before pulling over shortly afterwards when she began feeling dizzy, weak and unable to breathe properly.
The driver said she felt as if the men had sprayed something shortly before her symptoms began. She subsequently suspected they had tried to drug her.
Tuk-tuk drivers and other people nearby came to her aid and took her to hospital, according to Phuket Times.
No police finding or identified substance
MGR Online reported that the four foreign passengers initially appeared to help the driver, but left during the confusion at the scene.
Witnesses reportedly suspected the driver may have been targeted because she was wearing a gold necklace. However, this has not been confirmed by police.
The reports supplied do not say whether the driver filed a police complaint. There has also been no confirmation from authorities of what, if anything, caused her symptoms.
Picture courtesy of Phuket Times
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15 September 2026
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