Drug Bust at Famous Surat Thani Temple: 4 Monks Caught Playing Slots, Drug Dealer Arrested

On February 11, Police Colonel Worawit Charoen Suphaphon and Lieutenant Colonel Chanchai Sawatdee ordered an investigation at a temple in Na Sarn district after receiving information about monks involved with drugs. Lieutenant Colonel Boonchue Chaimai led officers to conduct urine tests on 13 monks, finding 4 monks tested positive for drugs: Phiraphong (34), Sukhwinai (58), Ittikorn (25), and Kittisak (30). During the investigation, one of the monks with a positive drug test received a call from a drug dealer offering methamphetamine. Officers conducted a sting operation and arrested Amarin, 20, with 26 methamphetamine pills while he was delivering drugs to the temple. Additionally, Monk Phiraphong was caught playing online slot machines and was charged with illegal online gambling.