Over the last two years, hundreds of Malaysian law enforcement officers have been arrested for stealing electricity that was allegedly being used to create digital currency. The country’s police force has also confiscated equipment worth millions of dollars.
Malaysia Police Announce Results of Crackdown against Illegal Mining
Since 2020, Malaysian authorities have detained a total of 627 people involved in crypto mining activities using stolen electrical power, the country’s Bernama news agency revealed. According to the report, authorities also confiscated mining equipment worth 69.8 millions Malaysian Ringgits ($16.6 Million).
In a quoted statement, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani noted that the arrests were made as a result of joint efforts with representatives of Malaysia’s Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) electric utility company and the Criminal Investigation Department (JSJ).
In exchange for the cooperation, nine TNB-owned four-wheel-drive vehicles were given to the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM). They will be used by JSJ in fighting theft of electricity across Malaysia. The trucks were handed over to the PDRM by Datuk Baharin Din, TNB’s chief executive officer.
“Royal Malaysia Police expresses its highest appreciation to TNB for its contribution,” Acryl Sani stated while declining to provide further details on the operations against the miners. The police official urged the Malaysian people to become aware of these activities and to report any attempt to connect illegally mining equipment to the grid to either the utility or to the police. A police official warned that:
Also, property owners should be cautious before letting tenants use their properties. They are asked to check on the premises frequently to see if there are any signs of misuse.
After December Malaysian authorities busted an extensive bitcoin mining operation and confiscated over 1700 coins minting machines in a massive crackdown against electricity theft, the police data was released. TNB raids inspected more than 70 locations. Nearly half were used illegally for crypto mining. Officials say the plants have burned nearly $500,000 worth stolen electricity. The Malaysian government demolished over 1000 mining rigs last summer.
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