Perak cops have seized RM2.2mil worth of cryptocurrency mining rigs in raids since December

IPOH: Perak police have seized RM2.2mil worth of cryptocurrency mining machines during several operations at 24 premises around the state since December 2020.

Perak police chief Comm Datuk Mior Faridalathrash Wahid said the police arrested 25 men during the raids.

“The raids were conducted in Ipoh, Taiping, Manjung, Kerian, Kampar, Perak Tengah and Kuala Kangsar.

“We believe that the syndicate was able to get about RM1.5mil a month, ” he said in a statement Friday (Feb 19).

Comm Mior Faridalathrash said the raids, joined by Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB), were conducted from Dec 1 last year until Thursday (Feb 18).

“The cryptocurrency mining premises had caused losses of about RM743,000 per month to TNB, due to electricity theft.

“Their modus operandi is to look for buildings without any occupants, and far away from residential areas before modifying the wiring and connecting the electricity illegally, ” he said, adding that the suspects are between 20 and 40 years old.

The case is being investigated under Section 37(3) of the Electricity Supply Act 1990, Section 379 of the Penal Code for theft and Section 427 of the same Code for mischief.

Separately, Comm Mior Faridalathrash said a total of 10,924 police personnel in Perak will be receiving Covid-19 vaccines following the announcement that frontliners will be recipients of the vaccines.