Johor Police Dismantle Bitcoin Mining Syndicate Stealing Electricity from TNB

Johor police have dismantled an illegal cryptocurrency mining syndicate that was stealing electricity from Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) to mine Bitcoin. The operation, codenamed Ops Letrik, involved four raids on July 22 and 23 in the Johor Bahru area.

Police arrested three local men, aged between 26 and 46, who are believed to be involved in the Bitcoin mining operation. The suspects were remanded until July 26.

The police seized 71 cryptocurrency mining machines, two computers, two laptops, five routers, two monitors, two computer keyboards, a mobile phone, and two vehicles during the raids.

Initial investigations revealed that the syndicate had been operating for about a month before it was dismantled. TNB's checks estimated the utility company's losses from the illegal cryptocurrency mining at RM67,502.30 over the roughly one-month period.