Mexico Seizes Crypto Mining Farm Suspected of Funding Cartels

Mexican authorities have seized around 300 graphics processing units from a hidden crypto mining farm in Tlaola, Puebla. The facility was raided by personnel from Mexico's Attorney General's Office, the Mexican Navy, and Puebla's Public Security Secretariat.

The site was found to be located about two kilometers from the nearest village, with residents reporting that they could hear the mechanical noise from the machines up to one kilometer away. Officials are investigating whether the farm drew power without authorization from the nearby hydroelectric infrastructure.

Crypto mining can create newly issued coins that have a clean on-chain origin, making it appealing to those trying to hide illicit money. Security analyst David Saucedo told Reuters that running such a site requires technical knowledge and financial backing that a well-funded criminal group could provide.