Police raid temple in Chaiyaphum, arrest six monks after drug tests turn purple, discover methamphetamine in cells
Police raided a Chaiyaphum temple and arrested six monks after drug tests revealed four had used methamphetamine, with 18 pills found hidden in their cells. Authorities also arrested a drug supplier caught distributing pills to the monks.
On May 11, 2026, the Chaiyaphum Provincial Drug Control Center, led by Chaiyaphum Governor Anant Nakaniyon, conducted a raid on a temple in Ban Han subdistrict, Kasetsart district, Chaiyaphum following reports of monk involvement in drug-related activities. All six monks at the temple underwent urine testing, with four monks testing positive for drug use indicated by purple-colored urine. The abbot and deputy abbot tested negative. Officers discovered 18 methamphetamine pills hidden in the monks' cells and proceeded to defrock the four monks and forward them for legal proceedings. In a follow-up operation, authorities arrested a 25-year-old drug supplier who confessed to purchasing 1,000 methamphetamine pills at 30 baht per pill through online channels and reselling them to drug users and monks at 40-50 baht per pill. A total of 216 methamphetamine pills were seized from the supplier.
