An abbot in Roi Et was disrobed and sent for rehabilitation yesterday, October 12, after admitting to methamphetamine use and testing positive for drugs during a raid at his temple.
The operation followed a tip that groups of youths had been gathering at a temple in Nam Kham subdistrict, Suwannaphum district, to take methamphetamine with the abbot.
A joint team involving police and local community leaders went to the temple to investigate. The abbot was the only monk staying there.
When officers approached him in the temple grounds, the abbot ran from the compound but was caught after a chase of about 120 metres.
During questioning, the abbot admitted to using drugs and said he had run because he panicked when officers arrived. A urine test then returned a positive result for drugs.
Community leaders then arranged for him to leave the monkhood before he was taken to Suwannaphum Hospital for rehabilitation under Thailand’s drug treatment procedures.
The investigation then led officers to a house directly in front of the temple, where they arrested two people accused of supplying methamphetamine to the former abbot.
Nine methamphetamine pills were seized during the search.
The two suspects are accused of possessing methamphetamine for sale and distributing the drug for commercial purposes. They also face charges of methamphetamine use and drug-impaired driving.
Both were taken, along with the seized pills, to Hua Thon Police Station for further proceedings.
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