Abbot and monks fail drug tests as police find meth and women's underwear in temple raid

A Buddhist abbot and two monks tested positive for drugs as police seized meth and women's underwear from a temple in Thailand.

The holy men allegedly violated their monastic vows as they reportedly used illegal drugs and brought women to their sleeping quarters in Nakhon Ratchasima.

Officers stormed the Wat Pa Samakkhi Charoen Tham temple on June 18 as part of a provincial anti-drug operation targeting Buddhist temples.

They were shocked to find the senior monk's room covered in mountains of rubbish.

Stomach-turning footage shows rubbish bags piled high across the floor. Food containers covered with maggots lay scattered among dozens of empty liquor bottles, lighters, and beer cans.

Officers also discovered drug paraphernalia and several pairs of women's underwear stuffed inside plastic bags buried beneath the debris.

Police had to wear face masks to endure the overwhelming stench.

The discovery shocked residents, who said the squalid living quarters contrasted with the pristine and well-maintained temple grounds.

Authorities said the abbot, another monk and a temple disciple all failed drug tests. A methamphetamine pill was reportedly seized during the raid.

The three suspects voluntarily entered rehabilitation at Wang Nam Khiao Hospital. The two monks have since disrobed, while officials are preparing to appoint a new abbot to take over the temple.

Buddhism is the dominant religion in Thailand, with 90 per cent of the population identifying as Theravada Buddhists.

Monks take a vow of celibacy to detach themselves from worldly desires, which are seen as obstacles to spiritual enlightenment. They are banned from being alone with women.

However, the Thai clergy have faced numerous scandals over the years, eroding public trust in the religious establishment.