Johor Police Bust Bitcoin Mining Syndicate Stealing Electricity from TNB
Johor police have busted a bitcoin mining syndicate that stole electricity from Tenaga Nasational Bhd (TNB). The operation, code-named Ops Letrik, was carried out by the Johor contingent police headquarters' criminal investigation department (D4), working alongside TNB's southern region SEAL team.
Three local men were arrested in Iskandar Puteri, Johor Bahru Utara, and Kulai for their suspected involvement in the bitcoin mining operation. Police seized 71 cryptocurrency mining machines, two computers, two laptops, five routers, two monitors, two computer keyboards, a mobile phone, and two vehicles.
The syndicate is believed to have used direct tapping connections that bypassed legitimate TNB electricity meters, allowing their bitcoin mining operations to run without paying bills. Initial investigations revealed the syndicate had been operating for about a month before it was dismantled.