Report Police Raid Temples to Arrest 181 Hidden Crime Suspects

[snoop1130]

Photo courtesy of Bangkok Post

 

In an unprecedented sweep, authorities raided temples across Thailand early Tuesday morning, seeking to apprehend 181 criminals believed to be concealing themselves within the Buddhist monkhood.

 

Led by the Central Investigation Bureau, the operation targeted individuals involved in serious offences ranging from embezzlement and money laundering to drug trafficking and transnational crime. It’s believed many suspects had sought refuge by becoming monks or were hiding in temple precincts.

 

Of the 181 suspects, 154 had taken monastic vows, cynically exploiting the sanctity of monkhood to evade justice. Among these, one held the prominent position of abbot, while 27 had already left the monkhood prior to the raids.

 

One of the notable arrests occurred at Wat Wan Boon in Khlong Luang district, Pathum Thani province, where police detained 45-year-old Surat Lungtia, known within the community as Phra Surat. Authorities accuse him of laundering money for a notorious drug syndicate.

 

Surat was apprehended while performing his morning alms rounds. He was promptly defrocked at Wat Wan Boon following his arrest. The police revealed that Surat, an ethnic tribesman from Northern Thailand, had been living as a monk at the temple for about ten years. During their investigation, they discovered that a transnational drug group had been using his bank account to funnel funds.

 

In his defence, Surat claimed innocence, stating that another individual had borrowed his bank account without his knowledge of its illegal use. Despite his assertions, the police remain resolute about his complicity, backed by evidence unearthed during their probe.

 

This crackdown highlights the troubling misuse of religious institutions by criminal elements seeking to elude the law. The raids underline the police’s commitment to upholding justice, even as they disrupt places traditionally seen as sanctuaries.

 

These raids have stirred discussions across the nation, raising questions about the integrity of those seeking ordination and the responsibility of temples in performing due diligence. The police operation underscores an urgent need to safeguard religious spaces from becoming shields for criminal activities, reinforcing the importance of accountability and transparency within these sacred environments.

 

As the investigation continues, the authorities aim to bring all suspects to justice and restore trust in the sanctity of Thailand’s revered monastic traditions. The broader community watches closely, hopeful for reforms that protect the spiritual sanctuaries from becoming havens for crime.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-08-05

 

[newbee2022]

Thank you, RTP ❤️

[Will B Good]

We could do with the RTP having a look into the Catholic Priesthood......that would keep them busy 

[Artisi]

And when finished with the monkhood they will then have time to investigate the RTP, that should keep them busy for a number of years.