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

 

Thank you, RTP ❤️

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

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. 

Great to see - we all know this has been going on for a long time. Kudos the the RTP.

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

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.

Just as corrupt as everything else.

Wolves in sheeps clothing.

Plenty of them all around the country hiding from the law in temples after committing crimes and also joining temples to get their hands on the temples cash , or quickly making their own from donations given and then flee when have enough to survive a few years on the run.

15 hours ago, Will B Good said:

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

 

...or within their own ranks.

So religious site is no longer the safe heaven to those on the run?  

I personally know of a case where father knocked up daughter.. and was given the choice of monkhood or prison. He picked monkhood. 

I am sure that there are more than 181 criminals living in the Thai temples.

18 hours ago, Will B Good said:

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

I think that they are intersted more in little altar boys than money and drugs.

Seems like a good start.

Well, that's one way to hide. But you can't get anything by the Royal Thai Police.

Becoming a monk because one sincerely regrets one's mistakes is a very old practice, but over the years many have taken advantage of this opportunity for redemption and turned temples into a haven for criminals.

It's well-known that the temple system is rotten to the core and that the monastic order is full of shady criminals and dodgy monks that hide in plain sight under the orange robes. I mean, how can you think that it's a good idea that abbots of temples are personally in charge of all the money and donations, in their private accounts, with no oversight or accountability? No way, talk about temptation and blatant corruption... and on top of that they are shagging women too. They need to clear house and wind in the lawless monks or people will just become cynical over it all.

In my opinion, temple finances should be controlled and overseen by professional financiers that are not part of the monastic order... although, that doesn't guarantee everything but it's better than having greedy lustful abbots running around damaging Buddhism.

3 hours ago, wavodavo said:

I think that they are intersted more in little altar boys than money and drugs.

Easy check the top level monks bank accounts. Anything above 100,000 Baht is clearly an indication!

5 hours ago, BerndD said:

I am sure that there are more than 181 criminals living in the Thai temples.

181 would be a drop in the ocean. It is a widespread pandemic within the monkhood. Thailand’s version of the Beagle Boys. 
 

On 8/6/2025 at 3:00 PM, Sir Dude said:

It's well-known that the temple system is rotten to the core and that the monastic order is full of shady criminals and dodgy monks that hide in plain sight under the orange robes. I mean, how can you think that it's a good idea that abbots of temples are personally in charge of all the money and donations, in their private accounts, with no oversight or accountability? No way, talk about temptation and blatant corruption... and on top of that they are shagging women too. They need to clear house and wind in the lawless monks or people will just become cynical over it all.

In my opinion, temple finances should be controlled and overseen by professional financiers that are not part of the monastic order... although, that doesn't guarantee everything but it's better than having greedy lustful abbots running around damaging Buddhism.

No different than what has been happening in the Catholic Church for years particularly at Head Office in Rome.

To say they will make merit and enter the monkhood if they commit a crime seems to be their get out of jail free card, and the police and even the courts accept this.