Young Monk From Buriram Breaks Vows After 10 Days, Craves Methamphetamine and Shoots Five Rounds Before Arrest
An 18-year-old disrobed monk in Buriram broke his vows after just ten days, unable to resist methamphetamine cravings, and fired five shots before police arrested him during a drug operation that netted over 12,000 tablets.
On April 26, 2569, Deputy Superintendent Suwat Nammonkol of Muang Buriram Police Station, along with Tanon Mentaisong, Muang Buriram District Deputy Administrator, led officers in apprehending 18-year-old Sak and 24-year-old Payou, seizing 4,000 methamphetamine tablets. The operation followed the earlier arrest of 19-year-old Film with 8,222 tablets. During interrogation, Film revealed that a Buriram drug dealer hiding in Laos had been directing drug transactions through him. Film cooperated with authorities to set up a sting operation to catch other suspects.
Payou confessed to disrobing just that afternoon after ten days as a monk. Unable to cope with his cravings and unwilling to violate monastic precepts, he had his parents contact the abbot for his release. Upon disrobing, Payou was torn between visiting his girlfriend and satisfying his drug urge. The latter won out, and he purchased ten methamphetamine tablets from a villager, consuming four to five before his eventual arrest. His plan to see his girlfriend never materialized.