Banglamung, Thailand – On September 17th, 2025, authorities in Banglamung arrested a Buddhist monk suspected of drug trafficking following a tip-off from the public via the “Broken Down Banglamung” LINE application. The operation, led by District Chief Patcharapat Srithanyanon, targeted a monk residing in a well-known temple in the Banglamung area after reports of his involvement with illegal drugs.
Acting on the tip, administrative officials, including Wanchai Wannaprom, head of the administrative division, and Kamphrai Laosaen, a senior district official, collaborated with Huay Yai Police Station officers to monitor the suspect’s activities. The team conducted surveillance at a two-story residence located in the Huay Yai Sub-district.
Upon entering the premises, authorities found the monk, who appeared visibly shaken. A search of a second-floor attic room uncovered a significant stash of illegal drugs, including 492 methamphetamine pills (yabba) and 72 grams of crystal methamphetamine (ice), concealed in various locations such as under cabinets, inside alms bowls, and within donation kits. Drug paraphernalia, including a scale and zip-lock bags, was also seized.
Further investigation led to a search of the monk’s quarters at a prominent local temple, where an additional 29 yabba pills and drug paraphernalia were found hidden inside a microwave. The monk confessed that the drugs belonged to him, claiming he had taken over the stash after a fellow dealer was arrested. He admitted to both using and selling the drugs, pricing yabba at 50 baht per pill and ice at 400 baht per gram, primarily to local youths. A drug test confirmed the presence of narcotics in his system.
The monk was escorted to the temple’s abbot to formally disrobe before being detained and transferred to the Banglamung District Office. Authorities documented the arrest and handed him over to Huay Yai Police Station for legal proceedings.
