Group Of Monks Fail Drug Test & Test Positive For Meth Pills That Cost As Low As RM2.53

By Quinny Tan  •  in News
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Buddhist monks praying
Source: Getty images

Buddhist’s were taught that wisdom, kindness, patience, generosity and compassion were important virtues. Specifically, all Buddhists live by five moral precepts, which prohibit:

  • Killing living things
  • Taking what is not given
  • Sexual misconduct
  • Lying
  • Using drugs or alcohol

Yet in Thailand, a Buddhist temple has been left stranded because all the monks, including the abbot, had failed a drug test and tested positive for methamphetamines.

Four monks including an abbot at a temple in Phetchabun province’s Bung Sam Phan district tested positive for methamphetamine on Monday. Photo: AFP
Source: SCMP

Boonlert Thintapthai said the monks were subsequently sent to a health clinic to undergo drug rehabilitation.

The raid comes amidst a national campaign to tackle drug trafficking.

The monks were reportedly removed from the temple after police administered urine tests on Monday, which saw all four men failing the test. Officials did not say what had brought the temple to the attention of police.

“The temple is now empty of monks and nearby villagers are concerned they cannot do any merit-making,” he said. Merit-making involves worshippers donating food to monks as a good deed.

Boonlert said more monks will be sent to the temple to allow villagers to practise their religious obligations.

Yaba methamphetamine pills now cost as little as 20 baht. Picture: Madaree Tohlala/AFP
Source: Adelaide Now

Thailand is a major transit country for methamphetamine from Myanmar’s troubled Shan State via Laos, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

The Golden Triangle – the area where the borders of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet – and specifically Shan State, is believed to be the largest producer of meth in the world.

On the street, pills sell for less than 20 baht (RM2.53).

Last December, Thai authorities seized crystal methamphetamine with a street value of almost US$30 million stuffed inside boxing punch bags.

As for the monks, may they find peace in other ways besides hard drugs.

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