Ubon Ratchathani—
On November 8th, 2023, the Dam Rong Dhama Organization and Thai Government Department of Inspection and Complaints received a report from a good citizen that a monk allegedly took illicit drugs and distributed them to local teenagers in Natan, Ubon Ratchathani.
Mr. Ubon Peerapornpanya, the Natan District Chief, Natan police officers, and relevant officials performed an investigation on the monk who was later identified as Mr. Surasit Sukhan.
At the Ban Na Udom Temple, Surasit was reportedly found under the influence of drugs in front of a monk cubicle. The police officers then asked to search inside the cubicle and found 10 amphetamine pills.
According to the report from Natan police officers, Surasit reportedly confessed his wrongdoings and that he had bought 13 amphetamine pills worth 500 baht from an anonymous local drug dealer. Surasit had reportedly taken three of them before being arrested.
Surasit then left the Buddhist monkhood before being escorted to the Natan police station and the Natan hospital for a drug test, which was reportedly positive.
Consequently, the Natan police officers took the former monk, Surasit, into custody for further legal proceedings.
