PANews reported on March 17 that according to Cryptoslate, officials from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CIB) of Thailand seized 63 illegal crypto mining machines last Friday. These illegal crypto mining equipment were worth about 2 million baht (60,000 US dollars) and were found in three abandoned houses in Pathum Thani Province. Local residents complained that unidentified people stole electricity from poles and transformers in the area, and then the officials raided. Locals suspected that the stolen electricity was used for cryptocurrency mining operations hidden in abandoned buildings. Investigators estimated that the electricity stolen from the three houses for crypto mining caused losses of more than 11 million baht (327,000 US dollars) to the power bureau.

Police officials said that in addition to the mining equipment, they also seized three cryptocurrency mining controllers, three routers, three internet signal boosters, three modified electricity meters, a desktop computer, a laptop and two bank passbooks. No arrests were made as the mining operations were remotely controlled. However, officials found evidence linking the illegal operation to a luxury home at Ram-Indra Soi 65 in Bangkok's Khan Na Yao district. CIB officials have applied for a search warrant to raid the residence and locate the gang leader and other accomplices. Authorities pointed out that in addition to causing damage to the power sector, the illegal mining equipment also poses a major fire hazard. This is because the operations consume huge amounts of electricity and are left unattended.