Thai monk defrocked after drugs, guns found in hut raid

2026-03-08 - 08:33

MAHA SARAKHAM — The reputation of Thailand’s Buddhist clergy has been tarnished again after provincial officials raided a monk’s hut at a temple in northeastern Thailand and found drugs and several firearms. Officials from Maha Sarakham’s provincial administration surrounded and searched the hut at a temple in Borabue district following complaints submitted through the Damrongtham public grievance centre. Residents reported that a monk from another province had come to stay at the temple and was allegedly gathering with others to take drugs and drink alcohol, and might also be hiding firearms in the hut. When officers inspected the single-storey hut, they found it in a filthy state, with belongings scattered chaotically. Large piles of rubbish inside the room emitted a strong foul smell throughout the area. Inside, officials found Phra Suwan, 40, originally from Kanchanaburi province, living in the hut. A search also uncovered two .22-calibre firearms, three BB guns and 41 rounds of ammunition, all of which were seized as evidence. During initial questioning, Phra Suwan admitted he had taken two methamphetamine tablets about five days earlier and had not used the drug since. A urine test conducted by officials later confirmed the presence of narcotics in his system. After the inspection, authorities took the monk to the temple abbot to formally defrock him before handing him over to investigators at Borabue Police Station in Maha Sarakham province for legal proceedings. Local residents criticised the former monk’s behaviour, saying they had noticed suspicious conduct for some time before filing a complaint with authorities. Villagers also called for stricter inspections of monks in the area to prevent similar incidents from occurring again.