Malaysian Authorities Have Detained Seven Individuals For Electricity Theft Over Bitcoin Mining Operations
The individuals involved have no prior criminal records, and authorities confiscated 52 B mining rigs and other electronic equipment valued at approximately 250,000 Malaysian R (around $57,000).
Malaysian authorities recently arrested seven individuals in connection with a Bitcoin mining operation that allegedly involved electricity theft. According to reports from Bernama, the arrests included three residents and four foreign nationals who were detained separately last week.
The operation, led by Sepang District Police Chief ACP Wan Kamarul Azran Wan Yusof, was part of a special enforcement initiative aimed at detecting illegal bitcoin mining activities tied to power theft. The individuals involved have no prior criminal records, and authorities confiscated 52 B mining rigs and other electronic equipment valued at approximately 250,000 Malaysian R (around $57,000).
This crackdown is part of a broader effort by Malaysian authorities to address the issue of power theft associated with cryptocurrency mining. Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir, the deputy energy transition and water transformation minister, highlighted last month that crypto miners in Malaysia had stolen around RM3.4 billion ($777 million) worth of electricity between 2018 and 2023.
