In a synchronized crackdown, officers from the Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD) and officials from the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) conducted raids on illicit Bitcoin mining operations at a vegetarian shelter in Nong Song Hong sub-district, Ban Paew district of Samut Sakhon, and a warehouse near Kaen Chan Hill in Muang district of Ratchaburi provinces on Friday.
During the operation at the vegetarian shelter, 187 Bitcoin mining machines were seized, accompanied by the discovery of tampered electricity meters indicating lower power consumption. Sombat Tangnava, who identified himself as the caretaker of the shelter, was apprehended.
Simultaneously, at the warehouse in Ratchaburi, authorities uncovered 465 Bitcoin mining machines, also with tampered electricity meters. Kiatkong Tumthong, the caretaker of the warehouse, was detained for questioning.
The suspects claimed that the Bitcoin mining machines were legally imported from China and sold to interested investors. Each investor was purportedly charged 6,200 baht per month per machine, with electricity costs estimated at 9,000 baht per month per machine. This revelation sheds light on the intersection between cryptocurrency mining and investment opportunities in various cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Tether (USDT), Binance Coin (BNB), and Dogecoin (DOGE).
