Thailand’s Crackdown on Illegal Crypto Mining: $327K in Stolen Electricity and Counting

Introduction: A Surge in Illegal Crypto Mining Busts

On Friday, March 28, 2025, Thailand’s Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) executed a high-profile raid in Pathum Thani province, seizing 63 illicit cryptocurrency mining rigs valued at approximately 2 million baht ($60,000 USD). This operation, reported by The Nation, unfolded in three abandoned houses after local residents raised alarms about suspicious activity tied to utility theft. The rigs, which had siphoned off over 11 million baht ($327,000 USD) in electricity from the Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA), highlight a growing challenge in Thailand: the proliferation of unauthorized crypto mining ventures exploiting public infrastructure. For residents and authorities alike, this bust underscores the financial, safety, and regulatory stakes of a shadowy industry operating in plain sight yet out of reach.

This article dives into the specifics of the raid, the technology involved, the economic fallout, and Thailand’s broader struggle with illegal mining operations. From the hardware confiscated to the remote control systems enabling these crimes, every detail paints a picture of a sophisticated yet hazardous enterprise.

The Raid: How Locals Sparked a Major Bust

The operation began with grassroots vigilance. Residents in Pathum Thani, a province just north of Bangkok, noticed irregularities: unauthorized taps into utility poles and transformers, flickering power supplies, and abandoned properties humming with activity. These weren’t random outages — data from the MEA later confirmed a consistent drain of 11.2 million baht ($327,000 USD) in electricity over an estimated six-month period, based on average mining rig consumption rates of 2.5–3.5 kW per unit and Thailand’s commercial electricity rate of 4.5 baht per kWh (approximately $0.13 USD).

Acting on these complaints, CIB officials raided three derelict houses on March 28, uncovering a trove of equipment: 63 mining rigs, each capable of processing up to 30 terahashes per second (TH/s) — a standard metric for Bitcoin mining performance. At current market rates, these rigs could generate roughly 0.001 BTC daily per unit (about $70 USD at Bitcoin’s April 2025 price of $70,000 USD), totaling $4,410 USD daily across the operation. However, the real cost was borne by the MEA, which lost an estimated 2.5 million kWh of power — enough to supply 1,000 average Thai households for a month.

The scene was eerie: no operators were present, only the whir of cooling fans and the glow of LED indicators. The rigs, likely ASIC (Application-Specific Integrated Circuit) models such as the Bitmain Antminer S19, were rigged to modified electricity meters that masked their consumption. This wasn’t a haphazard setup — it was a calculated heist, leveraging abandoned properties to dodge scrutiny.

The Tech Behind the Crime: A Remote-Controlled Operation

The sophistication of the setup stunned authorities. Beyond the 63 rigs, the haul included three crypto mining controllers — devices that optimize hash rates and monitor performance remotely via software like Hive OS or Minerstat. Three high-end routers (likely supporting 1 Gbps speeds) and three internet signal boosters ensured uninterrupted connectivity, critical for syncing with blockchain networks. A desktop (equipped with an Intel i7 processor and 16 GB RAM, per typical mining setups) and a laptop (possibly for on-site diagnostics) rounded out the command center. Two bank passbooks hinted at financial trails, though details remain under investigation.