Buddhist temple news: Thailand’s Buddhist temple left empty after all monks test positive for drugs

An official informed AFP that four monks, including the abbot, returned positive after being tested for methamphetamine in the northern region of Phetchabun. According to a district official, Boonlert Thintapthai, the monks were then taken to a health centre for drug rehabilitation.

The raid coincides with a countrywide drive to combat drug trafficking, which has been growing at an alarming rate. The monks were allegedly taken from the temple on Monday after police gave urine tests, which all four men failed. Officials could not specify what drew police attention to the temple.

What have the district officials said?

According to Mr Boonlert Thintapthai, a district administrator, the temple is now devoid of monks, and local people are anxious that they will be unable to perform a merit-making. He also stated that regional officials solicited the assistance of the local monastic leader, who offered to transfer some new monks to the monastery in the Bung Sam Phan district to ease worshipers’ worries and help them continue their religious rituals under these new monks.

Thailand is a key methamphetamine transit country. Myanmar, the world’s largest producer of methamphetamine, sends narcotics into the nation. The tablets are sold on the streets for about ฿50, which is about $1.41.

FAQs:

1. What is merit-making?
   Merit-making is an essential Buddhist ritual in which worshipers obtain protecting energy by performing good activities, such as feeding monks.
2. Has the Thai government made any efforts to reduce methamphetamine use?
   Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha authorised a narcotics crackdown last month after a former police officer who had been fired for methamphetamine possession massacred 37 people during a shooting at a nursery.