An alleged major drug dealer in the Northeast who hid behind a saffron robe and enjoyed a luxury lifestyle has been arrested at a popular temple in Kalasin’s Yang Talat district.
The suspect, known by the nickname "Pae Khon Kaen", was caught indulging in his own product in company with other monks in the living quarters on Tuesday.
Police impounded 8,400 speed pills in packets of 200, worth 1.6 million baht, 33 grammes of crystal methamphetamine worth 66,000 baht, 110gms of marijuana and three pistols, along with drug paraphernalia. A BMW sedan with Bangkok licence plates was also seized.
Khon Kaen police led the operation and later took the suspect back with them to Khon Kaen’s Muang police station. He was expelled from the monkhood, and then charged.
Police followed up on the arrest, leading to the capture of seven other gang members.
Police did not reveal the suspect's true name at Wednesday's news conference, identifiying him only as Mr Assadang, and admitting it was not his real name. The abbot also appealed to police not to name the temple where he was caught, living there as an ordained monk. He was worried about its image being damaged.
The names were omitted from the case chart displayed by police.
Pol Maj Gen Prommanatthakhet Hamkhamphai, commander of Khon Kaen police, said the suspect had been implicated in the drug trade by addicts caught in Muang district.
Police investigators then learned the suspect had been ordained as a monk in neighbouring Kalasin province. This led to the raid on the temple.
“Pae Khon Kaen is a major drug agent in the Northeast. He has links to a drug network in Bangkok’s Rama II area. The extended investigation has shed light to several other people.
"Khon Kaen police have sent this information to the Office of the Narcotics Control Board and the Metropolitan Police Bureau." Pol Maj Gen Prommanatthakhet said.
“The suspect enjoys a luxury lifestyle, with over 10 million baht circulating in his bank accounts. He drove his BMW to deliver speed pills and crystal meth to his clients, mostly nightclubbers.‘’
During interrogation, the suspect gave useful information to police and implicated other people, the Khon Kaen police chief said.
The suspect placed purchase orders for amphetamine pills every two weeks, worth at least four million baht each time. He also purchased crystal meth and marijuana for sale. He sold speed pills at 200-250 baht a pill, and crystal meth for 2,000 baht a gramme.
He told police he entered the monkhood to boost his good fortune and make merit, as he had been involved in the illicit drug trade in Khon Kaen for a long time.
The BMW sedan seized from the drug dealing monk. (Photo by Chakkrapan Natanri)
Packets of amphetamine pills found in the monk's living quarters at a temple in Kalasin. (Photo by Chakkrapan Natanri)