Police in Chiang Mai are looking for an unidentified woman suspected of drugging two tourists in their hotel rooms — one of whom died from an alleged resultant overdose — before escaping with their money.
Police yesterday released photos and announced a national manhunt for the suspect, Thai News Agency reported.
On Aug. 19, the woman reportedly checked into a hotel with an Indian tourist, identified as Tariq Bhat Ahmad, 45. According to staff, she ordered a cup of coffee and toast to the room that night.
The next day, a hotel maid found Ahmad dead, with foam on his lips. The woman was already gone. While there was no sign of violence on his body, police did find an empty coffee cup on the bedside table, which led them to believe the victim was drugged and robbed.
It wasn’t clear how much the suspect allegedly stole, but they found nothing but a wrinkly THB50 note on Ahmad, reported local news outlet Ejan.
If basing an alleged drugging on an empty coffee cup feels like a stretch, stick with us.
A second case occurred just two days later. On the night of Aug. 21, American tourist Jean Wolfgang, 69, was sent to hospital after allegedly being drugged in his hotel room. Wolfgang said that he met the suspect at a bar before bringing her back to his place.
He said that once they were back at his room, she ordered him a coffee, which he drank and blacked out.
He later woke up to find that his credit card and all of his money — THB9,500 cash and another US$5,000 — were gone, reported Khaosod.
Police said that the suspect used Wolfgang’s credit card to buy a diamond ring at a local jewelry store. The payment was approved.
While witnesses say that they’ve only heard the woman speak English, Chiang Mai police believe she may be Thai. They’ve asked immigration officials to be on the lookout for her in case she attempts to flee the country.
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