Mexican police uncover cartel-run cryptocurrency mining farm in Puebla mountains
Authorities in Puebla state discovered a hidden crypto-mining operation linked to a drug cartel, featuring hundreds of GPUs and large power infrastructure.
In the forested Sierra Norte of Puebla, law enforcement uncovered a clandestine cryptocurrency mining farm equipped with roughly 300 GPUs, 80 medium-voltage terminals and eight satellite antennas. The operation, which consumes far more electricity than local communities require, is believed to be a money-laundering front for a powerful Mexican drug cartel. Analysts note that establishing such a venture demands both technical know-how and deep financial backing.
Authorities suspect the farm may have been siphoning power from a nearby hydroelectric dam, exploiting cheap or stolen electricity to maximize profit. This is the fourth similar facility discovered in the area since early last year, reflecting a broader shift of cartels into digital finance crimes. Global data shows illicit crypto activity more than doubled in 2025, with criminal wallets receiving billions of dollars, underscoring the growing challenge for law-enforcement agencies.
Why it matters
It shows how drug cartels are expanding into high-tech financial crimes, threatening both security and energy infrastructure.
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