Buddhist monk arrested for 'hiding meth pill inside inhaler container' in temple raid

A Buddhist monk was arrested in Thailand for allegedly hiding meth in an inhaler container.

The suspect, identified only as 'Lek', 49, joined a Buddhist temple in Khon Kaen province a year ago before devotees started suspecting him of using drugs.

Village officials said they kept watch on Lek and allegedly confirmed he had been using yaba - a meth-based tablet commonly containing meth and caffeine - in his room.

They alerted police, who stormed the monk's squalid quarters on September 14.

Footage shows officers sweeping into Lek's room, which allegedly reeked of methamphetamine.

They combed through his belongings and found a green menthol inhaler containing a yaba pill.

Lek was detained and later brought before the Ecclesiastical Commune-Chief to be formally defrocked.

Police said he had arrived from Surin province and had been staying at the temple for around a year.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Koranat Jitdee said: 'Residents learned that he was involved with illicit drugs, so they and the village headman continuously monitored his behaviour.

'Eventually, they confirmed that he was consuming methamphetamine pills inside his quarters to evade detection.'

Lek will face legal proceedings over the alleged drug offence.

The arrest comes after police arrested Buddhist monk Veerapat 'Moss' Sawatsing and alleged courier Teeraphong 'Thee' Sornchanwong on August 30 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.