Malaysia Detains Over 600 People for Stealing Electricity to Mine Cryptocurrency

Malaysia Detains Over 600 People for Stealing Electricity to Mine Cryptocurrency

In the past two years, law enforcement authorities in Malaysia have arrested hundreds of individuals for theft of electricity allegedly used to mint digital currencies. The country’s police force has also confiscated equipment worth millions of dollars. Malaysia Police Announce Results From Crackdown on 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. During the same period, law enforcement officials also seized mining hardware worth 69.8 million Malaysian ringgit ($16.6 million), according to the report.

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).

As part of the cooperation, the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) received nine four-wheel-drive vehicles from the TNB to be used by the JSJ in combating electricity theft across the country. 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. He called on the Malaysian public to be aware of such activities and report to the police or the utility about any attempts to illegally connect mining equipment to the grid. The police official warned: Premises owners are also asked to be vigilant before handing over their premises to tenants and to visit the premises regularly to inspect if they are being misused.

The police data has been released after in December Malaysian law enforcement busted a large bitcoin mining operation, confiscating over 1,700 coin minting devices in a major crackdown on electricity theft. More than 70 locations were inspected during the raids carried out with the TNB. Almost half of them were found to be used for illegal crypto mining. Officials claim the facilities have burnt almost $500,000 worth of stolen electricity. Last summer, the Malaysian government destroyed over 1,000 mining rigs. Tags in this story Authorities, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Miners, Bitcoin mining, Crackdown, Crypto, crypto miners, crypto mining, Cryptocurrencies, Cryptocurrency, Electricity, Energy, Malaysia, Malaysian, Miners, mining, Mining Devices, mining machines, mining rigs, Police, power, Theft, utility

Do you think Malaysian authorities will continue to crack down on illegal mining operations in the country? Tell us in the comments section below. Lubomir Tassev

Lubomir Tassev is a journalist from tech-savvy Eastern Europe who likes Hitchens’s quote: “Being a writer is what I am, rather than what I do.” Besides crypto, blockchain and fintech, international politics and economics are two other sources of inspiration. As Bitcoin’s Hashrate Remains Elevated, BTC’s Mining Difficulty Expected to Reach a Lifetime High MINING | 8 hours ago "Bitcoin in Cowboy County" — New Documentary to Feature Gas-to-Bitcoin Mining Solutions in Central Wyoming MINING | 2 days ago

Image Credits: Shutterstock, Pixabay, Wiki Commons Previous articleBiggest Movers: AXS Falls Lower Following Hacks, While ZIL Climbs by Over 50% Next articleNifty Gateway Partners With Samsung to Develop ‘First-Ever Smart TV NFT Platform’ Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not a direct offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell, or a recommendation or endorsement of any products, services, or companies. Bitcoin.com does not provide investment, tax, legal, or accounting advice. Neither the company nor the author is responsible, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on any content, goods or services mentioned in this article. Read disclaimerShow comments More Popular NewsIn Case You Missed ItReport: Digital AUM Surged to $48.7 Billion in March, Average Weekly Flows Turn Negative

The total aggregate digital assets under management (AUM) surged to $48.7 billion in March, up from the $43.9 billion that was recorded in January, the latest data from Crypto Compare has shown. In contrast, the average daily trading volumes fell ... read more.Anonymous Claims It Has Released 28GB of Bank of Russia Documents US Senators Working on Broad-Based Crypto Regulation NFT Sales Slid Lower This Week, Cronos NFT Volume Jumps 236% Higher, Azuki Collection Rises  81.79 "Sleeping Bitcoin" From 2011 Worth $3.6M Moved for the First Time in Over a Decade