Chonburi's Buddhist Office has defrocked all monks. At "Promsunthorn Monastery". After discovering drug use, pornography viewing, and possession of sex exercise devices.
At 14:20 on 27 Jan 2026, Chonburi's Buddhist Office officials, together with Phra Khru Phattharathiraporn, head of Ang Sila subdistrict, Phra Samuh Anan (nickname) Atiphatto, a monastic disciplinarian at Chonburi's Disciplinary Center, Colonel Saksin Kamnedsin of Chonburi's Internal Security Operations Command, Mr. Kanet Sritrakul, district chief of Mueang Chonburi, Mr. Winai Ponpaipal, mayor of Ang Sila municipality, police from Saen Suk Police Station, and administrative officers jointly raided Promsunthorn Monastery in Ang Sila subdistrict, Mueang District, Chonburi.
They found Phra Phosang, the abbot, and three other monks at the monastery: Phra Supachai Chanthawong, 35; Phra Wirat Mukdasanit, 45; and Phra Thanapon Maisongklang, 59. Drug tests on the three monks showed purple urine indicating drug use, so they were defrocked. The abbot, of Karen nationality, was not registered in civil records. At his residence, authorities found 89,000 baht in cash, a pornographic video player with a disc still spinning, and a sex exercise device. All monks were defrocked.
During questioning, former monk Supachai admitted to using methamphetamine to relieve symptoms of diabetes, high blood pressure, and body pain. He said using the drug helped him function better and that he had used it for only about 2–3 years.
Phra Khru Phattharathiraporn, head of Ang Sila subdistrict, said that after investigation, three monks were found to have used drugs and were defrocked and sent for treatment. This is a violation of monastic discipline and damages Buddhism's reputation, drawing public criticism. All monks were defrocked. The abbot is believed to be a foreigner of Karen nationality, as his name was not found in the civil registry. He was defrocked and handed over to police for investigation and immigration authorities for legal action.
Mr. Kanet Sritrakul, district chief, and Colonel Saksin Kamnedsin of Chonburi's Internal Security Operations Command said they initially received complaints from villagers about a monk possessing firearms and using drugs at the monastery. They conducted a joint search and found four monks; urine tests showed three had used methamphetamine and crystal meth. The abbot was found with large amounts of cash, pornographic video equipment, and a penis pump. His name was not in Thailand's civil registration. All four monks will be defrocked; the three drug users will be sent to police and relevant authorities for treatment, while the abbot will be investigated by police and handed to immigration for deportation.
Authorities urged villagers to help monitor local temples for monks behaving improperly or causing harm to Buddhism’s reputation. They encouraged reporting such cases to Mueang Chonburi District Office or Chonburi's Internal Security Operations Command during official hours to help protect Buddhism.