All four of the holy site’s monks and the abbot in a small religious site in Phetchabun province Thailand tested positive for methamphetamine.
Methamphetamine is a highly addictive and illegal psychostimulant drug similar to amphetamine. People use it for its powerful euphoric effects, which are similar to those of cocaine.
They have since been expelled from the temple, stripped of their monkhoods and sent to a health clinic to begin drug rehabilitation.
The Bangkok Post reported that their
urine tests showed evidence of illegal drugs
The temple was raided by police and health officials .
The raid was a result of Thailand’s larger crackdown on illegal drugs. According to the United Nations, the country serves as a major transit point for methamphetamine coming from Myanmar’s Shan state through Laos.
Though the departure of the monks has caused consternation in the local community, which relies on them for religious functions but the district’s monarch has promised to send more monks to the temple.
