Thai authorities have seized 63 bitcoin mining machines for stealing over $327,000 worth of electricity.
The machines, valued at an estimated $60,000, were found in Pathum Thani province during an operation led by the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), according to The Nation newspaper.
The operation was triggered by local residents’ reports of electricity theft from utility poles. Citizens suspected the stolen energy was being used for mining operations.
The official report indicates that these illegal activities caused the Metropolitan Electricity Authority losses exceeding $327,000 in electricity bills.
In addition to the machines, the CIB confiscated three routers, mining controllers, three internet signal boosters, modified electricity meters, a laptop, a desktop computer, and two bank books. Despite the seizure, no arrests were made as the operations were being managed remotely.
The entire operation was linked to a luxury house located in Ram-Indra Soi 65, Khan Na Yao district. Authorities have requested a search warrant to identify the person responsible for the operations. In addition to electricity theft, officials highlighted the fire risk, as the operation was not being monitored.
In a similar case last January, Thai authorities seized 996 machines in Phanat Nikhom district. In another case last November, nine illegal mining farms were shut down in Surat Thani province.
