A visiting monk was defrocked and arrested on drug charges at a rented room in Nong Plalai.
Identified only as “Phra Pon,” the man drew the attention of Banglamung Police Dec. 2 after residents complained on Soi Nongket Yai reporting a monk acting inappropriately.
Officers arrived to find the monk eating lunch, but strange behavior prompted them to administer a drug test, which he failed. The monk denied using drugs, but another test administered at Banglamung Hospital confirmed methamphetamine use.
Police said the monk reportedly came from Nakhon Sawan regularly to seek food alms, then rented a room to eat and do drugs. He was taken to the Naklua Monks Committee, where he was defrocked and then arrested by police.
