Buddhist monk arrested in temple raid after flushing drugs down the toilet

A Buddhist monk was arrested after allegedly flushing drugs down the toilet during a temple raid in Thailand. Phra Moo, 30, was accused of using drugs with youths when police stormed the Wat Noen Tak Daed temple in Trat province on October 12. Officers stormed his living quarters following complaints from concerned devotees, who claimed they also saw him engaging in online gambling. Police converged on his room and spent more than 30 minutes trying to get him to open the door. But Phra Moo allegedly locked himself in the toilet and flushed meth pills down the toilet before cops forced their way inside. Five methamphetamine pills and 2.4g of crystal meth were collected at the scene. Officers also detained three teenagers, identified as Dung, Tang and A, who had a history of playing online slot machine games on their phones. All three tested negative for drugs. Police Lieutenant Colonel ML Kasiphat Charoonrot, chief inspector of the Nong Bon Police Station, said the raid followed a drug arrest on July 31, when an alleged supplier linked to Phra Moo was detained. He said: 'The suspect in that case had been supplying drugs to him both before and after he was ordained as a monk. 'We had also received complaints from local residents about groups of youths gathering inside the temple to engage in online gambling. 'Both drug use and online gambling are illegal and harmful to society. We urge parents and the public to keep a close eye on their children and family members and report any suspicious activity to the police so we can work together to tackle these problems.' The arrests follow a series of drug-related cases involving Buddhist monks in Thailand. On October 8, temple abbot Phra Kowit Petchlert, 44, was caught with 13 meth pills after driving 25 miles to buy drugs in Prakhon Chai, Buriram. On October 7, three monks and two temple workers were detained in Khon Kaen over alleged methamphetamine use. On September 14, Buddhist monk, Lek, 49, was arrested at a temple in Khon Kaen for allegedly keeping meth in his menthol inhaler. While on August 30, another monk Veerapat 'Moss' Sawatsing and alleged courier Teeraphong 'Thee' Sornchanwong were detained for allegedly selling ketamine in Pattaya. Buddhism is the dominant religion in Thailand, where the majority of the population identifies as Theravada Buddhist. Monks are expected to follow strict religious rules, including abstaining from alcohol, drugs, and sex which are considered incompatible with monastic life. However, Thailand's Buddhist clergy has faced a number of scandals in recent years involving sex and drug scandals, and alleged misconduct, sparking scrutiny of discipline within the religious establishment.