Nine monks, novices in Chumphon arrested over drug use
Nine young monks and novices in Chumphon’s Tha Sae district were arrested and defrocked after they tested positive for drug use, officials said.
Acting on a tips-off, officials of a taskforce of the Chumphon governor checked Wat Kring in Moo 7 village in Tambon Sup-anan and arrested two monks for allegedly abusing methamphetamine.
Based on accounts of the two monks, officials next checked a monastic centre in Tambon Hong Charoen of Tha Sae. Four monks and three novices were tested for meth and found positive.
All were defrocked and brought to a drug rehabilitation centre at the Chumphon Territory Defence Company.
