The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) searched the residences of three active and one former officials of the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) and seized thousands of illegal crypto mining rigs, cash, laptops, phones and bank passbooks.
The four officials are under investigation for alleged abuse of authority to facilitate a bitcoin mining syndicate, with cash and bank deposits of over 19 million baht seized from an assistant PEA governor. No names were disclosed.
Justice Minister Rutthaphon Naowarat announced the results of an operation targeting an illegal crypto mining network and state officials at multiple levels at a media briefing.
DSI director-general Pol Maj Yutthana Pradam, PEA governor Mongkol Treekitjanon and representatives other agencies were also present.
Pol Lt Gen Rutthaphon said the raids stemmed from the launch of “Operation Copperhead” on Dec 3 last year. As a result of those findings swift legal action had been ordered against alleged offenders and the probe expanded to cover the entire network, including influential figures and those operating behind the scenes.
On Jan 19, DSI investigators searched sites tied to illegal use of electricity for underground bitcoin mining. The officers seized 3,642 crypto mining rigs and uncovered key evidence linking the operations to financiers and state officials.
This led to search warrants being issued for seven locations in Bangkok, Nonthaburi and Samut Sakhon provinces.
Pol Maj Yutthana said the searches on Jan 19 uncovered evidence implicating four PEA officials – an assistant governor, a regional-level deputy manager, a technician and a service division employee who retired in 2025. The names of the accused officials were not disclosed.
According to investigators, the accused PEA officials abused their authority to benefit the illegal bitcoin mining operation by arranging warehousing, facilitating electricity supply and transformer access and inspecting power loads. They allegedly accepted monthly kickbacks of up to 400,000 baht.
Mobile phones, laptops and bank passbooks were seized as key evidence to track financial transactions and corruption, the DSI chief said. (continues below)
Investigators also found links to investor groups and “grey” Chinese networks suspected of attempting to interfere in the justice process. Other evidence seized included mobile phones, computers, CCTV recording devices and extensive documentary records, indicating a systematic and organised collaboration.
Pol Capt Khemachart Prakaihongmanee, director of the DSI’s Technology and Cyber Crime Bureau, said the DSI investigators searched three residences belonging to a PEA assistant governor on Jan 25.
The houses were in Nakhon Pathom and Chon Buri provinces, and they found bundles of cash and 10 bankbooks showing deposits of 19.03 million baht. The official’s verified income did not match with the assets held, raising suspicion of unusual wealth. Financial trails dating back to 2024 were also identified, according to Pol Capt Khemachart.
Legal action would be taken against all offenders without exception, regardless of rank or position, he said. The case would be expedited and forwarded to the National Anti-Corruption Commission for further action.
Mr Mongkol said the PEA had been working with the DSI in the investigation of illegal cryptocurrency mining operations that siphoned off electricity worth several billion baht.
The PEA officials implicated in the scheme had been suspended from duty and a disciplinary committee had been set up to investigate the accused officials, the PEA governor said.
