At 3:30 p.m. on June 11, high-ranking police officials and electricity authority managers conducted raids at three commercial buildings in Ayutthaya Province suspected of illegally operating Bitcoin mining facilities by stealing electricity.
The raids took place at:
- A 3-story building on Rojana Road, Sam Ruean Subdistrict, Bang Pa-In District
- A 4-story building on Uthai–Phachi Road, Khan Ham Subdistrict, Uthai District
- A 3-story building in Ko Rian Subdistrict, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya District
In all three locations, the setups were similar, with lower floors locked and concealed electrical lines connected illegally. Authorities found Bitcoin mining equipment (30 machines per site), computers, and industrial fans — totaling 90 mining units and 3 computers.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Phairoj Sukruaythanachot stated that the operation was executed by individuals with technical expertise seeking profit from digital currency, but they illegally tapped into the national electricity grid. The stolen electricity over three months amounted to an estimated loss of around 3 million baht.
One suspect has been arrested, and investigations are ongoing to identify other individuals involved. Officials discovered that the culprits used a method to tamper with the meters to prevent them from registering usage, while still drawing about 90 amps per phase. The Electricity Authority urges the public to report suspicious electricity usage by calling 1129.