In Ratchaburi province, Thailand, crackdown on illegal bitcoin mining
In Ratchaburi province, Thailand, law enforcement authorities have completed a major operation to crack down on illegal bitcoin mining. The reason for the raid was numerous complaints from residents about frequent power outages that had been ongoing for over a month. Local authorities determined that the cause of the interruptions was the activities of illegal miners who were using electricity without paying for it.
During the searches carried out as part of the operation, police officers found several unregistered cryptocurrency mining installations. It turned out that the owners of these installations were unlawfully consuming electricity, which contributed to frequent power outages for regular consumers.
According to representatives of law enforcement agencies, the suspects in illegal mining took advantage of the time needed to obtain a search warrant to remove most of the equipment before the police arrived. This created additional difficulties for the investigation.
In Thailand, bitcoin miners are required not only to pay for the electricity they consume, but also to pay the appropriate taxes, as they are considered producers. However, as local authorities note, illegal mining has been growing for many years, and the fight against it remains relevant.
This raid was the fourth in Ratchaburi province, where the police and the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) are actively combating illegal mining activities. The mining installations discovered this time were part of a broader phenomenon that requires further attention and control from the authorities.
