A chief district security officer mentioned that Bitcoin miners consumed significant electricity while paying less taxes.
Thai authorities have launched a raid on an illegal Bitcoin mining operation linked to a frequent power outage in a local town for over a month.
According to a report from South China Morning Post, authorities from the Provincial Electricity Authority and local law enforcement raided a residence in Ratchaburi, a province in central Thailand, west of Bangkok.
This marked the fourth time this year that officials have raided an unauthorized Bitcoin mining operation in Ratchaburi province.
Raid on Illegal Bitcoin Mining
Jamnong Chanwong, the chief district security officer, reportedly stated that the power outages started around mid-July, likely coinciding with the mining equipment’s full operation. Thai officials noted that the Bitcoin mining operator paid minimal fees relative to the substantial electricity usage. However, no arrests were made at the mining site.
“We found bitcoin mining rigs, pointing to people using this house to operate a mine and using power they didn’t fully pay for,” Chanwong said.
Chanwong also noted that mining cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin requires potent computers that consume huge amounts of electricity.
The chief district security officer further said that Bitcoin miners in Thailand are classified as manufacturers and are required to pay the corresponding taxes. Still, illegal mining activities have been increasing steadily over the years.
Additionally, Chanwong said that his team attempted to access the residence on August 22, but a security guard refused entry. The team returned with a search warrant and discovered that most of the equipment had been relocated.
About 985 Bitcoin Mining Machines Destroyed
Southeast Asian countries have become popular locations for bitcoin mining operations due to affordable electricity, skilled workforce, and developed infrastructure, particularly following China’s ban on all crypto mining activities in 2021.
Recently, Malaysian authorities reportedly destroyed 985 bitcoin mining machines worth about 1.98 million Malaysian ringgits ($452,500) as part of their ongoing effort to address power theft associated with crypto mining. Additionally, the Sepang district police detained seven individuals earlier this month for allegedly carrying out bitcoin mining activities using illegally obtained electricity.
