Malaysian police seize illegal crypto mining rigs and arrest three suspects

During raids on July 22 and 23, Johor police disrupted a network of cryptocurrency miners operating nonstop in four rented premises, capturing 71 mining rigs and related hardware. Three suspects were arrested and a range of devices, including computers, routers and vehicles, were seized. The syndicate avoided electricity metering, resulting in an estimated €14,500 loss to the utility within about a month, while the miners reportedly earned between €17,200 and €21,500 monthly.

Although modest compared with nationwide figures, the case reflects a broader pattern of electricity theft for crypto mining, which has cost Malaysia's utility TNB around €1.1 billion since 2020. Experts warn that limited legislative and enforcement capacity hampers efforts to curb such activities as the country expands its digital infrastructure.