'Monks' On Drugs Caught During Daring Escape From Mountainside Temple

Five men were detained after they pretended to be monks so as to support their substance abuse problems. The men were detained in Thailand's Rayong province, and local media have identified them as border-hoppers from Cambodia. As they choose monk-like attire, they are attracting greater media attention.

Khaosod Online

On 7th October, Friday morning in Khao Bo Thong in the Klaeng, the five impostor monks were detained. More people are believed to have been involved, but many of them managed to flee, avoiding detention. After initial complaints from citizens, the men first suspected they had not been acting in a manner befitting of monks.

Khaosod Online

The locals were drawn to them, when the monks turned down the customary offerings, including food and water. They observed that the "monks" had no interest in charitable donations of any other type and were solely interested in money. Because they showed little interest in the material offerings once they were provided and were just concerned with getting more and more money instead.

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When police attempted to break into the mountainside temple, the guys ran, climbing the mountain and hiding. According to police estimates, there were likely around 10 men involved in total. The remaining men were asked for certification by the police, which they duly declined to provide, leading the officers to take them in for more interrogation.

The men had unlawfully crossed the border from Cambodia, it was discovered after questioning. The use of narcotics was detected in two of the men. They acknowledged using methamphetamine, which they had purchased for 96p per dose. 

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They allegedly crossed the border a decade ago and have been living this way ever since, according to Pattaya News. Since then, the men have been expelled from the monastery.