Malaysian Police have come face to face with Bitcoin miners who were allegedly mining crypto illegally while utilizing the electricity source stolen from the main grid. The police raid aimed towards apprehending electricity thieves led to the seizure of 1,720 mining rigs that were harnessing stolen electricity for minting the highest valued cryptocurrency in the world.
An ordinary police raid turned into one of the biggest electricity theft operations carried out by Malaysian Police. While raiding at least 75 premises, where the people suspected electricity theft was going on, the police busted 30 illegal Bitcoin mining farms.
Police Chief of Perak, Malaysia told on 27th December 2021 that raids were conducted in the follow-up of complaints lodged by residents. The Chief said that the operation turned out to be the most successful operation of the year. The Chief further said that they were investigating a case of electricity theft which involved the theft of approximately US$ 479,000.
At least 75 properties were searched thoroughly and 30 of them were found involved in carrying out illegal activities of Bitcoin mining. Police noted that these 30 premises were in fact stealing electricity from the main grid and utilizing it for mining Bitcoins. Police Chief confirmed that a total of 1,720 mining machines were seized on the spot and the removal required massive transportation.
Other than mining machines, several computers, monitors, and laptops were too removed from the site and taken into police custody, said Police Chief. Also, the police took into custody motor vehicles, CCTV cameras, and other equipment.
It was told by the Perak Police Chief that further investigation will be carried out in due course. The police are more concerned about the persons behind operating these illegal mining farms. However, the police are not aware of when these mining facilities were conducting mining operations. Nor does it know how much electricity had in fact been stolen by these mining farms.
Meanwhile, a person named Ayer Tawar had been arrested who was alleged to be the caretaker of the facility hosting illegal mining farms. The police have accused him of being carrying out mining operations as well as for stealing electricity.
Similar operations were also carried out by Malaysian Police in the past as well. At that time also, the police busted several illegal crypto mining farms and most of them were used for mining Bitcoins. At that time also, the police seized more than a thousand mining rigs which were eventually destroyed completely by a steamroller. Further, the police had confiscated Bitcoins from the operators of illegal miners which have been moved into the state treasury.
Under the law, Malaysian Courts pass orders wherein directions are passed for selling off assets for making up the state loss.
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