Thai law enforcement recently confiscated 996 Bitcoin mining devices from a company in Chon Buri province, accusing them of stealing electricity to operate their operations. The raid, which occurred on January 8, revealed modified power meters used to drain electricity from the grid to operate the mining equipment.
To escape suspicion, the company, which was registered for digital asset trading, allegedly adjusted its meters to activate the miners at night while operating them properly during the day. Officials from the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) estimate that the stolen electricity could be worth millions of dollars, up to $3.2 million.
This operation, a collaboration between the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) and the PEA, sought to address the rising issue of unlawful energy use by bitcoin miners. Authorities discovered not only mining equipment but also many devices adapted to aid in the theft of electricity.
The mining site also had solar panels installed, but they were not connected to the mining operations, raising additional concerns about the company’s energy consumption. The PEA has filed a formal complaint to press charges against the responsible parties.
This is one of many cases in the region where cryptocurrency mining has raised worries about its environmental and economic impact. The Thai government, while gradually warming to blockchain technologies, has been wary of widespread Bitcoin mining due to the potential for criminal activities and the pressure it puts on the country’s energy supply.
