In connection with the illicit mining operations that are plundering energy from Malaysia, the police have apprehended and charged numerous individuals.
The Malaysian police are dismantling Bitcoin mining equipment as part of a broader campaign against crypto miners who pilfer electricity for their operations.
The police headquarters in the Perak District pulverized 985 mining machines worth RM1.98 million ($452,500) earlier this week, according to a report from local media outlet Malaysia Gazette. Local officials were present as the devices were pulverized with a steamroller in a video posted on the platform’s X account.
According to the director of the Perak Tengah District Police, the department has been directed by the court to dispose of the mining equipment. During their enforcement operations and raids against Bitcoin miners from 2022 to April, the authorities confiscated the machines.
“Out of the 24 recorded cases, nine of the Bitcoin mining items are from 2022, two are from 2023, and one is from 2024.” Superintendent Hafezul Helmi Hamzah stated that this disposal is conducted in accordance with the ‘E-Waste and Solid Waste Under the First Schedule, Environmental Quality Regulations (Scheduled Waste) 2005 in force’ scheduled disposal method.
In addition to arresting individuals suspected of overseeing the theft of electricity from the Asian nation, the police also conducted investigations on Bitcoin mining facilities.
The Sepang District Police apprehended seven individuals believed to be involved in the mining operations in the Bandar Baru Salak Tinggi and Taman Putra Perdana localities during one of the operations conducted last week. The individuals apprehended were three local males and four foreign nationals, with ages ranging from 30 to 74, according to a report from CryptoPotato.
52 Bitcoin mining devices, three laptops, seven mobile phones, and two vehicles, which are estimated to be worth approximately RM250,000 ($57,000), were confiscated. The mining operations are currently under investigation by the authorities, and certain suspects who have been apprehended have been charged in court. It is important to note that the individuals who were apprehended have no criminal records and are only suspected of participating in illicit Bitcoin mining activities that involve electricity theft.
For an extended period, Malaysian authorities have expressed their disapproval of the practice of local Bitcoin miners stealing energy to power their crypto operations. Between 2018 and 2023, Malaysia experienced a loss of up to RM3.4 billion ($722 million) in energy due to crypto miners. The energy minister of the government claimed that the miners were able to pilfer energy for an extended period of time because there were no meters on their premises. Nevertheless, energy supply companies have implemented a variety of methods to identify anomalous consumption.
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