Positive For Sabu-shabu,acterins In Thailand Were Sent To Rehabilitation

Illustration of Buddhist monks. (Unsplash/Alexander)

JAKARTA - A Buddhist temple in Thailand has been temporarily vacated while waiting for a replacement monk, after the four monks who were originally there tested positive for drugs.

The four monks tested positive for using methamphetamine. Local authorities also sent the four of them to undergo rehabilitation.

The four monks, including heads of monasteries or head monks, failed a drug test in Bueng Sam Phan District, Phetchabun Province on Monday.

"Kuil is now empty of monks and villagers worried they won't be able to perform any virtue services," said official Boonlert Thintapthai, as quoted by the New York Post of AFP December 2.

Making virtue services is a Buddhist practice that involves followers donating food to monks as a good act.

Police asked monks to undergo a urine test, after they raided the temple as part of the provincial's crackdown on drugs.

The unnamed monks were immediately sent to a health clinic to undergo drug rehabilitation.

It said they were also immediately fired from diversity after testing positive for drugs, leaving their small temple without religious leaders.

In exchange, replacement monks were sent to the temple so that villagers could carry out their religious obligations, the official said.

It is not yet clear whether any drugs were found stored in the temple.

It is known, Thailand is the main transiting country for methamphetamines that are flooding from neighboring countries and pills sold for only 50 cents on the road.

The positive test of methamphetamine is just the latest example of a Thai monk who behaved poorly.

A drug addict monk named Phra Annipalo, was arrested earlier this month in northern Thailand after allegedly hijacking two vehicles.

He faces up to three years in prison for car theft and is also expected to be charged with the Thai Narcotics Act.