Thai police have been cracking down on illegal cryptocurrency mining operations that were stealing huge amounts of electricity.
Raids and Arrests
Over the weekend, police raided several buildings in Surat Thani province, arresting two men, Nathapong and Arthit, who were running a large-scale mining operation. They found over 100 mining machines, computers, and modified power meters.
The police were tipped off by informants who noticed deserted buildings with surveillance cameras, which raised suspicions.
How They Did It
The suspects were using modified power meters to reduce their electricity bills. They were able to power their energy-intensive mining equipment without paying the full cost of the electricity.
Nathapong admitted to starting the operation in late 2022, while Arthit confessed to modifying the power meters and maintaining the power supply network.
Another Bust in Chachoengsao
In Chachoengsao province, police raided a deserted warehouse and found over 100 mining machines. They believe the miners were stealing electricity from the warehouse, which was not being used for any other purpose.
The Cost of Stolen Electricity
The stolen electricity in both cases is estimated to be worth over 10 million baht ($287,191). This is a significant amount of money, especially considering that the average monthly household electricity bill in Thailand is only around 750 baht.
The police are continuing their investigation into these illegal operations and are warning others that they will be cracking down on any similar activities.
