Malaysia Detains Over 600 People for Stealing Electricity to Mine Cryptocurrency

In the previous two years, legislation enforcement authorities in Malaysia have arrested a whole bunch of people for theft of electrical energy allegedly used to mint digital currencies. The nation’s police power has additionally confiscated tools value thousands and thousands of {dollars}.

Malaysia Police Announce Results From Crackdown on Illegal Mining

Since 2020, Malaysian authorities have detained a complete of 627 individuals concerned in crypto mining actions utilizing stolen electrical energy, the nation’s Bernama information company revealed. During the identical interval, legislation enforcement officers additionally seized mining {hardware} value 69.8 million Malaysian ringgit ($16.6 million), in response to the report.

In a quoted assertion, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani famous that the arrests have been made on account of joint efforts with representatives of Malaysia’s Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) electrical utility firm and the Criminal Investigation Department (JSJ).

As a part of the cooperation, the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) acquired 9 four-wheel-drive automobiles from the TNB for use by the JSJ in combating electrical energy theft throughout the nation. The vehicles have been handed over to the PDRM by Datuk Baharin Din, TNB’s chief government officer.

“Royal Malaysia Police expresses its highest appreciation to TNB for its contribution,” Acryl Sani said whereas declining to supply additional particulars on the operations in opposition to the miners. He referred to as on the Malaysian public to pay attention to such actions and report back to the police or the utility about any makes an attempt to illegally join mining tools to the grid. The police official warned:

Premises homeowners are additionally requested to be vigilant earlier than handing over their premises to tenants and to go to the premises frequently to examine if they’re being misused.

The police information has been launched after in December Malaysian legislation enforcement busted a big bitcoin mining operation, confiscating over 1,700 coin minting units in a significant crackdown on electrical energy theft. More than 70 places have been inspected in the course of the raids carried out with the TNB. Almost half of them have been discovered for use for unlawful crypto mining. Officials declare the amenities have burnt virtually $500,000 value of stolen electrical energy. Last summer season, the Malaysian authorities destroyed over 1,000 mining rigs.

Do you assume Malaysian authorities will proceed to crack down on unlawful mining operations within the nation? Tell us within the feedback part beneath.