Thailand Police Seize 996 Bitcoin Miners in Power Theft Raid

Authorities in Thailand have confiscated 996 Bitcoin miners during a raid targeting a power theft operation in Chon Buri province.

According to a Bangkok Post report on Thursday, the police acted on suspicions that the mining machines were illicitly using electricity to mine Bitcoin, causing significant losses to the local power grid.

The raid was carried out by a team from the Provincial Police Region 2, in collaboration with officials from the Provincial Electricity Authority. The operation uncovered a large-scale setup of mining rigs that were running without proper authorization and bypassing electricity meters to avoid paying for power usage.

Another local news outlet reported that an unidentified staff member at the site admitted to police that the electricity theft occurred only at night to avoid raising suspicions.

The seized mining equipment, valued at millions of Thai baht, is now in police custody as investigations continue. Authorities are working to identify the individuals or groups behind the illegal operation and to assess the extent of the financial and energy losses caused by the scheme.

The reports of power theft for Bitcoin mining resurface as Bitcoin prices hit all-time highs exceeding $100,000. In August 2024, Malaysian authorities destroyed nearly 1,000 Bitcoin mining devices confiscated during a series of power theft crackdowns.