Senior Thai Electricity Officials Caught in Illegal Crypto Mining Scandal
Thailand’s particular investigation drive (DSI) has uncovered 4 senior officers from the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) for allegedly abusing their authority to function an unlawful Bitcoin mining syndicate.
Thousands of unlawful mining rigs have been confiscated from an assistant PEA governor, with money deposits value 19 million baht ($612.9K).
The Bangkok Post reported Tuesday that DSI raided three homes, seizing mining gear, money, laptops, telephones and financial institution passbooks.
“Operation Copperhead” – Wider Crackdown on Illegal Bitcoin Mining Operations
The raids performed by the DSI have been part of “operation copperhead,” launched in December 2025, stated Police Maj General Rutthapon Naowarat.
The operation targets legal networks working in Thailand, specializing in cash laundering and seizing unlawful belongings.
On January 19, the DSI officers seized 3,642 crypto mining rigs, discovering proof linking them to financiers and state officers.
The accused PEA officers embody an assistant governor, a regional-level deputy supervisor, a technician and a service division worker who retired in 2025.
Thorough searches have been carried out in Bangkok, Nonthaburi and Samut Sakhon provinces, the report famous.
Additionally, the investigators discovered that the accused PEA officers used their authority to rearrange warehousing, facilitating electrical energy provide and transformer entry for the mining hub. They reportedly accepted month-to-month kickbacks of as much as 400,000 baht.
“Legal motion can be taken towards all offenders with out exception, no matter rank or place,” stated Pol Capt Khemachart Prakaihongmanee, director of the DSI’s Technology and Cyber Crime Bureau. “The case can be expedited and forwarded to the National Anti-Corruption Commission for additional motion.”
Thailand Tightens Crypto Oversight, Keeps Illegal Operations at Check
The nation has already been tightening oversight on digital assets, ordering a broad crackdown on ‘gray cash’ – funds that transfer by legal-looking channels however usually hint again to legal syndicates and illicit actions.
Besides, in January 2025, the PEA uncovered a Bitcoin mining farm in Chonburi for tampering with energy meters to steal electrical energy. About 996 mining rigs have been seized in the crackdown.
However, the problem of unlawful Bitcoin mining isn’t confined to Thailand. It is a part of a broader world problem.
For occasion, Russia noticed “thousands and thousands of {dollars} per 12 months” in electrical energy and misplaced taxes tied to crypto mining final 12 months. As a end result, the nation’s Justice Ministry proposed prison sentences up to 5 years and fines reaching 2.5 million rubles for unregistered crypto mining operations.
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