A Buddhist monk in Lampang was arrested and defrocked on Monday morning after allegedly sending his layman aide to buy 400 methamphetamine pills, supposedly for his own use.
Lampang’s narcotics suppression police joined forces with Army troops based in the province to arrest Phra Seksit Saenmuangpiang, 27, at a temple in Tambon Wiang Nua in Mueang district.
The officials searched the living quarters of the monk after his aide had earlier been arrested in possession of 400 pills.
The aide, a layman, told them that the monk had sent him out to purchase the drugs.
Initially, officials did not find any other drugs after searching Seksit’s living quarters, but a bag with 144 meth pills was later discovered beneath the raised platform in the room.
After later admitting that the drugs belonged to him, he was immediately defrocked by the temple abbot.
Seksit, who had been ordained five years ago, told officials he had become addicted to meth and had used Bt20,000 of temple funds from public merit-making donations to buy drugs for his own use.
However, the authorities suspect that he purchased the drugs for reselling, and he has therefore been charged with having narcotics in his possession with intent to sell.
