THAILAND - The district's monastic chief and Wat Makham Riang abbot Phra Kru Supatammakoon said his office, local officials, health officials and volunteers had jointly organised surprise inspections on monks at the district's 27 temples.

So far, 32 monks including two abbots were discovered with purple-coloured urine test results. They were disrobed and sent to various rehabilitation centres, where they will be enrolled in a 9-day rehabilitation programme, the district's monastic chief said.

He added that in order for these disrobed monks to be ordained again, they must obtain approval from local officials including police to make sure they have completely recovered. Should a monk be caught for a second time, he would be disrobed again and convicted.