ohor police chief Ab Rahaman Arsad (centre) said TNB's checks estimated the utility company's losses from the illegal cryptocurrency mining activities at the four premises to be RM67,502.30. (Bernama pic)PETALING JAYA: Johor police have busted a syndicate illegally mining Bitcoin using electricity stolen from Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB), following four raids on July 22 and 23.Johor police chief Ab Rahaman Arsad said the operation, codenamed Ops Letrik, was carried out by the state's criminal investigation department with a team from TNB, Bernama reported.He said three men, aged between 26 and 46, were arrested in Iskandar Puteri, Johor Bahru Utara and Kulai for their suspected involvement in the Bitcoin mining operation. The items seized included 71 cryptocurrency mining machines, two computers, two laptops, five routers, two monitors, two computer keyboards, a mobile phone and two vehicles.Ab Rahaman said an initial investigation found the syndicate had operated for about a month, bypassing TNB electricity meters to power its Bitcoin mining operations without paying for electricity.He said TNB's total losses from the illegal cryptocurrency mining activities at the four premises were estimated at RM67,502.He also said the four premises raided, comprising three residential homes and one shophouse, were rented at RM5,000 to RM6,000 a month each.One suspect is believed to have managed all four premises, while the other two allegedly handled the wiring and machine installations.“The syndicate was capable of generating profits of between RM80,000 and RM100,000 amonth, while the suspects are believed to have been paid around RM5,000 each."All three suspects have been remanded until July 26, and we are tracking down several other people believed to be linked to the syndicate," he said.The case is being investigated under Section 427 of the Penal Code for mischief, which provides for one to five years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both, upon conviction.It is also being investigated under Section 37(1) of the Electricity Supply Act 1990 for interfering with or altering electrical installations, which provides for a fine of up to RM100,000, imprisonment of up to five years, or both.Ab Rahaman said that between January 2025 and June this year, Johor police raided 16 premises believed to be involved in illegal cryptocurrency mining, seizing various equipment, including 158 m…
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