Meth-head monks defrocked after Phuket raid

PHUKET: Five monks from Northern Thailand were defrocked in Phuket and volunteered to go to a drug-rehabilitation camp after testing positive for ya bah (methamphetamine) during a Thalang Police raid yesterday.

Police were notified of the behavior of the group of monks by residents in Moo 5 of Thepkrasattri Sub-district.

“Residents suspected that the men were fake monks because they went out and collected food and money at 1pm daily, then allegedly returned to a shelter on the airport bypass road to drink and use drugs,” said Lt Suchart Leucha of the Thalang Police.

When police arrived at the two shelters the monks were using, they found empty beer bottles outside.

“We questioned 16 monks at the scene, and asked to see their documentation while we conducted urine tests – we could smell alcohol on some of them,” Lt Suchart said.

“They all had the proper documentation. They are from temples in North and Northeastern Thailand.”

The five monks who tested positive for ya bah were defrocked at Thep Wanaram Temple (Wat Manik), but not charged, as they agreed to go to rehab.

The remaining 11 were sent back to their temples in the north, said Lt Suchart

Lt Suchart declined to name those defrocked.

One of the monks explained to police that it was possible to raise much more money at tourism destinations than they could at temples upcountry, which inspired them to come to Phuket.

“We cannot allow this to happen in Phuket. It could destroy our tourism image,” Lt Suchart said.

— Thawit Bilabdullar