PHUKET, Thailand – Patong police have identified and detained a Kuwaiti national accused of spraying an unknown substance at a pharmacist in a Patong pharmacy on September 2, an incident that left the victim requiring hospital treatment after reporting alarming symptoms. The pharmacist, who was working at a pharmacy in Patong, experienced a numb tongue, difficulty speaking, loss of balance, a rapid heartbeat, and a feeling that he was about to faint following the incident, prompting him to seek emergency medical care.

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According to the pharmacist’s account, the Kuwaiti man first entered the shop to ask for directions to Patong Police Station and to seek advice on buying medicine, before leaving and later returning carrying a bottle that resembled a perfume spray, which he had collected from under his motorcycle seat. The pharmacist said he managed to force the man out of the pharmacy before seeking help from Patong Hospital, where medics reportedly recorded his blood pressure at 160/100 mmHg and administered intravenous fluids.

Hospital staff also informed the pharmacist that there had recently been a similar case involving another Patong pharmacist, and police have indicated that the Kuwaiti national may have been linked to several comparable incidents, though their inquiry remains under way. Officers have seized two bottles from the suspect and sent them for laboratory testing to determine the exact substance used and whether it was responsible for the reported symptoms.

The suspect, who has not been named by authorities, reportedly told police that he has mental health problems and was preparing to return to Kuwait, while the pharmacist described the man as aggressive and speaking incoherently during the encounter. Police have also confirmed that the Kuwaiti national may have been involved in multiple similar incidents, raising concerns about the safety of pharmacy staff and the need for increased vigilance.

Police plan to notify the Kuwaiti Embassy as their investigation continues, and the suspect remains in custody while laboratory results are pending. Authorities have not yet disclosed what substance may have been used, and the investigation will determine whether formal charges will be filed. The incident has highlighted the vulnerability of healthcare workers to unpredictable behaviour and the importance of ensuring their safety in the workplace. The case is being treated with the utmost seriousness, and police are working to establish the full extent of the suspect’s activities.

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The pharmacist is recovering from the ordeal, and his condition is being monitored by medical professionals. The incident has drawn attention to the need for clearer safety protocols and better support for pharmacy staff in dealing with potentially dangerous situations. The authorities are committed to ensuring that justice is served and that such incidents are prevented in the future.

-Thailand News (TN)