Malaysian police crack down on Bitcoin mining operations involved in electricity theft: seven people arrested.
According to the national news agency Bernama, on August 17, Malaysian police conducted a special operation to dismantle Bitcoin mining activities connected to electricity theft. The operation led to the arrest of seven people, including three local citizens and four foreigners. A total of 52 miners and other electronic devices were seized, with an estimated value of RM250,000 (approximately $57,000).
The seven individuals arrested, aged between 30 and 74 years, will face charges for electricity theft and the unauthorized use of energy resources for mining activities.
The authorities intervened following reports of electricity theft used to power the operations. According to Malaysia’s Deputy Minister of Energy, miners have stolen electricity worth RM3.4 billion (approximately $777 million) from 2018 to 2023.
Effects of the chinese ban
After the mining ban in China in 2021, numerous mining operators relocated to Malaysia. The country became an attractive location for Bitcoin miners due to competitive electricity prices and existing infrastructure.
Destruction of miners
Following instructions from a local court, Malaysian authorities destroyed a total of 985 Bitcoin miners from previous seizures. A video shows a steamroller slowly crushing the mining equipment in an attempt to destroy it. During the operation led by the Perak District Police Headquarters, equipment worth an estimated RM1.98 million ($452,500) was destroyed.
This method of destruction is not new. Even in 2021, the police in the city of Miri, in the state of Sarawak, similarly destroyed over 1,000 Bitcoin miners.
