Perlis police seize 259 bitcoin mining machines in raids, uncovering RM15.55 million in electricity theft losses for TNB from illegal operations.
KANGAR: Police have seized 259 bitcoin mining machines and supporting equipment worth an estimated RM958,000 in raids across seven premises.
The operations in Kangar town and Kuala Perlis uncovered electricity theft causing estimated losses of RM15.55 million to Tenaga Nasional Berhad.
Perlis police chief Datuk Muhammad Abdul Halim said the raids followed public information about power supply disruptions from excessive energy usage.
“Inspections found that all the premises involved had carried out illegal electricity connections without meters to operate bitcoin mining activities,” he said.
He stated the illegal mining was believed to have been running for between three months and a year, affecting TNB’s revenue and operations.
The raids, conducted under Ops Cantas Elektrik, were carried out with assistance from TNB technicians and the Fire and Rescue Department.
A 19-year-old man was detained during the operation and later released on police bail after being remanded.
The case is being investigated under Section 427 of the Penal Code and Section 37 of the Electricity Supply Act 1990.
Muhammad urged the public with information on electricity theft to contact the Perlis Police Contingent Headquarters.
