Cops bust cryptocurrency mining ops in Manjung for stealing electricity, seize RM1.6mil worth of equipment

IPOH: Police have busted a cryptocurrency mining operation that was stealing power and seized RM1.6mil worth of equipment in Manjung.

Perak police chief Datuk Comm Mior Faridalathrash Wahid said police checked 47 premises in the district and found 16 of these locations stealing power to run the mining during an operation from 3.30pm Monday (Jan 3) to 4am on Tuesday (Jan 4).

He said police seized seized 816 cryptocurrency mining machines, 15 monitors, 17 computer processing units and 16 Internet routers.

"The matter will be investigated under Section 427 of the Penal Code and Section 37(3) of the Electric Supply Act.

"The police will continue to beef up its efforts to deter electricity theft in the state," he said in a statement on Tuesday.

"The police also welcome information from the people if they were to find suspicious individuals or premises believed to be (stealing power) to run cryptocurrency mining.

"Building owners who rent out their premises are also advised to be aware of their tenants' activities to ensure they are not doing anything illegal," he added.

The police arrested a man in Ayer Tawar last week and seized RM3.5mil worth of cryptocurrency mining equipment.

Some 75 premises were checked and 30 were found to be stealing electricity.