Johor Police Break Up Bitcoin Mining Syndicate Using Stolen Power
Johor police have busted a syndicate illegally mining Bitcoin using electricity stolen from Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB).
The operation, codenamed Ops Letrik, was carried out by the state's criminal investigation department with a team from TNB. Three men, aged between 26 and 46, were arrested in Iskandar Puteri, Johor Bahru Utara, and Kulai for their suspected involvement in the Bitcoin mining operation.
The items seized included 71 cryptocurrency mining machines, two computers, two laptops, five routers, two monitors, two computer keyboards, a mobile phone, and two vehicles. TNB's total losses from the illegal cryptocurrency mining activities at the four premises were estimated at RM67,502.
Ab Rahaman Arsad, Johor police chief, said the syndicate had operated for about a month, bypassing TNB electricity meters to power its Bitcoin mining operations without paying for electricity. The suspects are believed to have been paid around RM5,000 each and could generate profits of between RM80,000 and RM100,000 per month.