Malaysian police confiscated 1,720 bitcoin mining equipments in an attempt to stop a Bitcoin mining operation. “Police inspected 75 premises around the district and 30 of them were found to be carrying out illegal bitcoin mining activities and stealing electricity.”
Malaysian Authorities Close Bitcoin Mining Operations
Local media reports that Malaysian police are cracking down on an important case of electricity theft involving Bitcoin mining. At a Thursday press conference at Manjung’s district police headquarters, Datuk Mior Faridalathrash Wahid stated that the crackdown came after public complaints.
Police chief Anastasia noted that both the Tenaga Nasional Berhad and Sitiawan Fire and Rescue Station were involved in the operation.
TNB is celebrating this success.
He pointed out that the TNB had estimated the value of the electricity theft at RM2,000,000 ($478,870).
“Police inspected 75 premises around the district and 30 of them were found to be carrying out illegal bitcoin mining activities and stealing electricity,” the police chief explained, adding:
We seized 1,720 bitcoin mining machines.
In addition, “15 monitors, 22 central processing units (CPUs), 16 keyboards, seven mice, 56 modems, and a laptop” were also seized, the police chief detailed. He added: “Also seized was a Toyota Hilux, 44 exhaust fans, five alarms, and seven closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras.”
Mior Faridalathrash said that more investigation will be conducted in order to determine the identity of the man behind the illegal mining operation.
A 28-year old caretaker at the Ayer Tawar premises was also taken into police custody on suspicion that he had been involved in theft of electricity and illegal Bitcoin mining. According to the chief of police:
This man was taken into custody and remained there for four days. He is currently being investigated by the Electricity Supply Act 1990 and Sections 379-427 of the Penal Code.
Malaysian officials destroyed 1,069 Bitcoin mining machines using a steamroller in July. They also took the coins earlier in this year.
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