Thailand's Central Investigation Bureau launched an operation on 5/8, raiding 200 temples across the country. Their objective was to apprehend individuals accused of corruption, money laundering, drug trafficking, drunk driving, and transnational crimes who had either become monks or sought refuge in temples to evade justice.

Police reported that among the suspects, 154 were current monks, one was an abbot, and 27 were former monks still residing in temples. Thai authorities have not released details about the number of arrests made.

One of the suspects apprehended was 45-year-old Surat Lungtia, a monk at Wat Wan Boon temple in Pathum Thani province. He was accused of laundering money for a drug gang and was arrested while on alms round.

Surat was arrested during an alms round in Pathum Thani, northern Thailand, on 5/8. Photo: Bangkok Post

Surat was arrested during an alms round in Pathum Thani, northern Thailand, on 5/8. Photo: Bangkok Post

Police identified Surat as a member of a northern minority group who had ordained at Wat Wan Boon temple about 10 years prior. Investigators determined that a transnational drug trafficking gang had used his bank account to receive funds.

Surat denied the allegations, claiming another member of his ethnic group had borrowed his account. He asserted ignorance of any misuse of the bank account.

This crackdown follows a series of scandals involving dozens of monks nationwide, shaking public trust. Thai police have conducted background checks on 300,000 monks as part of a screening process. Investigators have also established a special center to handle complaints of misconduct within the clergy.

Duc Trung (Bangkok Post, Nation)