Four Buddhist Monks Arrested in Buriram Drug Bust

Buriram — Police, border patrol officers, soldiers and local officials arrested four Buddhist monks in Buriram in a drug investigation after allegedly finding 184 methamphetamine pills and uncovering links to a larger trafficking network that later led to the seizure of more than 49,000 pills.

The operation began early on 18 September, when a team led by Deputy Superintendent Suwat Nammonkol, head of the Buriram Provincial Police Narcotics Suppression Unit, investigated suspected drug trafficking near the border of Khu Mueang and Phutthaisong districts.

Officers followed a suspicious black sedan for more than 40 kilometers after observing it allegedly run several red lights. The vehicle eventually stopped at a traffic light in Ban Nong Kung, Mueang Buriram district, where officers identified the occupants as two monks.

The driver, identified as Kittisak, 31, was carrying 10 methamphetamine pills, which fell onto the road when he opened the vehicle door, police said.

A second monk, identified as Wachirawit, 22, was found carrying 89 meth pills hidden inside his robes. Officers also found another 82 pills concealed under the vehicle's center-console carpet.

Police then examined Kittisak's phone and found messages and money-transfer records allegedly showing that he had purchased meth from another monk in Phutthaisong district.

Investigators also found messages, voice recordings and transfer slips allegedly linking the abbot of the temple where Kittisak was staying to the purchase.

Kittisak told investigators that the drugs had been purchased from a monk known as Yutthana, 27, at a temple in Ban Pao subdistrict, Phutthaisong district.

Officers later found Yutthana returning to the temple after alms collection. He allegedly admitted arranging the purchase of one bag of meth for 3,800 baht for Kittisak and said he had received five pills as payment. He said he and another monk consumed three of those pills and kept two in a phone box inside his monk's quarters.

Police also found drug-use equipment at the temple.

The monks were subsequently taken to the abbot for disrobing, while investigators brought in the abbot identified as Phiphat, 32, of Wat Pa Nong Hin in Prakhon Chai district.

A urine test for Phiphat came back positive for drugs. He initially denied recent drug use but later admitted that he had used meth two or three days earlier.

Investigators also presented Facebook Messenger conversations allegedly showing that Phiphat had instructed two monks to purchase meth from Phutthaisong.

Phiphat eventually admitted that the temple had four monks and that he had been ordained for seven years. He said he had previously been involved with drugs before becoming a monk and had later returned to using meth after a temple worker introduced it to him.

He said he and two other monks had repeatedly obtained meth through Yutthana.

For the latest purchase, Phiphat said he instructed Kittisak and Wachirawit to buy one bag of methamphetamine.