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- Thai authorities have dismantled a significant illegal Bitcoin mining operation in Chonburi province, seizing 996 mining machines
- The operation had illicitly consumed electricity worth hundreds of millions of baht by tampering with power meters
- This crackdown is part of Thailand’s ongoing efforts to combat unauthorized cryptocurrency mining activities
Thai authorities have busted a large-scale Bitcoin mining operation whose operators tampered with electricity meters in order to use ‘free’ electricity. The mining farm, located in Chonburi province, was raided by Thai law enforcement in association with the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA), who had worked out that the operators had manipulated power meters to steal electricity valued at hundreds of millions of dollars. Authorities confiscated 996 mining machines during the raid and are actively seeking those responsible for the illicit operation.
Abnormal Electricity Consumption Leads to Discovery
The raid was carried out by the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) in collaboration with the PEA following suspicions of abnormal electricity consumption in the region. Upon inspection, they discovered 996 ASIC Bitcoin mining machines operating with tampered power meters.
A staff member on-site admitted that the electricity theft was orchestrated to occur predominantly at night to evade detection. The CSD has not yet identified the individuals or entities behind the Chonburi operation, and efforts are underway to obtain court warrants for the arrest of those involved.
National Implications
This incident is part of a broader trend in Thailand, where illegal Bitcoin mining operations have been uncovered in various provinces. In October 2024, authorities dismantled 10 illegal mining setups in Kanchanaburi’s Tha Muang district, where tampered electricity meters led to state losses exceeding 20 million baht ($577,000).
Similarly, in May 2024, a raid on an abandoned ice factory in Samut Sakhon resulted in the seizure of equipment worth over 70 million baht ($2.2 million), with the operation causing monthly electricity losses of about 10 million baht ($288,000).
These incidents highlight the challenges faced by Thai authorities in regulating cryptocurrency mining activities, especially concerning unauthorized operations that result in significant financial losses and potential risks to the stability of the national power grid.
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