GOSSIP
Buddhist temple closed after drug test: monks were all positive
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We are in Thailandia
Monks at a temple in Bung Sam Phandistrict, Phetchabun province, Thailand, took urine tests last Monday during a drug raid. All tested positive for illegal drugs and were forced to leave the monastery.
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Local police raid
The police had joined the health authorities and raided the small temple, where three monks and the abbot were staying. All four were tested for drugs and tested positive.
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Methamphetamine
The monks, according to local officials, tested positive for methamphetamine. This has caused consternation in the local community, which relies on monks for religious services.
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Temple closed
The monks were then sent to a specialized clinic. "The temple is now empty and the inhabitants of nearby villages are worried that they will not be able to do any ceremony," local officials said.
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Drug trafficking in Thailand
According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Thailand is a major transit country for methamphetamine arriving from the Burmese state of Shan through Laos. Methamphetamine pills are sold on the streets of Thailand for less than 20 baht (about 50 cents).
