BANGKOK, THAILAND – Thai authorities said they had dismantled a nationwide illegal Bitcoin mining network linked to the Chinese mafia that allegedly stole electricity worth about three billion baht.
Premier inspected seized mining hardware
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul personally inspected the confiscated equipment, which was found in warehouses and residential buildings in Samut Sakhon and Uthai Thani. Investigators discovered thousands of Bitcoin mining machines hidden in specially modified shipping containers.
The operators had installed an elaborate water-cooling system to manage the heat generated by the high-performance computers.
“This operation showed our determined fight against cybercrime,”
said Anutin, prime minister.
Years-long electricity theft via public grid
The specialized agency DSI carried out the operation, code-named “Operation Copperhead”. According to officials, the Bitcoin farms had tapped into the public power grid illegally for more than three years.
The estimated damage to Thailand’s electricity sector amounted to over three billion baht, while the seized hardware had a market value of around 270 million baht (6.7 million euros).
“The technology was highly professional and designed to remain undetected,”
said an investigator, adding that soundproofing and concealed cabling made the sites almost invisible.
Chinese Grey crime network suspected
The trail led to the transnational criminal organization known as “Chinese Grey”, which operates mainly out of Myanmar and is notorious for major fraud and cybercrime schemes. Investigators were now following the financial flows within the network.
They assumed that more than five billion baht had circulated through the criminal structure. A DSI spokesperson said:
“Some transactions were conducted via digital assets such as Bitcoin. These revenues went to the mafia and associated fraud networks.”
Cross-border probe and asset seizures
Thai authorities were coordinating with Chinese law enforcement in an effort to identify the masterminds and dismantle the entire network. In January, the DSI had already seized 1,788 mining units during “Operation Bitforge”, but officials said the latest raid was many times larger.
Beyond criminal prosecution, the focus was on seizing all illegally obtained assets and scrutinizing suspected mule accounts. Officials emphasized that tracing the money was central to weakening the organization.
Political signal in fight over infrastructure
The success came at a sensitive moment for Anutin’s government, which had faced criticism for not acting decisively enough against corruption and foreign criminal influence. The large-scale raid was intended to send a clear message about the protection of Thailand’s infrastructure.
“We would use all investigative and enforcement means,”
promised the premier. The Provincial Electricity Authority was instructed to investigate suspicious electricity consumption immediately, as the Chinese mafia’s lucrative mining business in Thailand appeared to be shut down for now.