Two temples in Suphanburi were raided by soldiers who arrested six monks following the discovery of ya ba pills, alcohol, sex dvd’s and playing cards.
The monks claimed the drugs were brought in by a layman and accepted as part of merit making.
The two temples raided were Wat Phan Tamlung in Don Kamyan sub-district and Wat Nong Kham in Sanam Khli sub-district. The raids followed complaints by the public.
At the first temple the raiding party found ya ba tablets and a huge stack of porn dvd’s. All monks had their urine tested and three came up purple indicating drug use. These were monks aged 24, 47 and 55.
They were handed over to the abbot and immediately taken for defrocking.
At Wat Nong Kham the soldiers knocked on the door of the monks’ quarters and found a midday drugs and booze party in full swing with monks and lay people in attendance.
They found a quantity of ya ba and drug taking paraphernalia. There were also empty booze bottles scattered throughout the premises. Three monks tested positive for drug taking and were defrocked and sent for criminal prosecution .
The monks said the lay people had brought the drugs in to the temple to offer to them. Such practice is known as merit making in Thailand.
All monks concerned said the drugs and booze parties had been raging for three days.
Playing cards were also found and taken into evidence along with the drugs and porn CDs.
(Source: Thairath)