48 bitcoin mining machines seized in Perak raid

IPOH: Police seized 48 bitcoin mining machines during a raid at a residential premises in Seri Iskandar today over suspected illegal electricity connections.

Perak Tengah district police chief superintendent Hafezul Helmi Hamzah said the operation was conducted by the district police headquarters' Criminal Investigation Division in collaboration with a Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) engineering team.

"Two fast Ethernet switches, an Internet router and a roll of cut electrical cable were also seized.

"The case is being investigated under Section 427 of the Penal Code and Section 31(1) of the Electricity Supply Act 1990," he said in a statement tonight.

He said police viewed electricity theft for cryptocurrency mining seriously, as it was against the law, caused losses to utility providers and increased the risk of fires and threats to public safety.

He advised the public against engaging in illegal activities and urged anyone with information on suspected cryptocurrency mining operations involving electricity theft to report it to the police.