3 arrested in Johor for stealing electricity to mine cryptocurrency

Johor police have arrested three men for allegedly orchestrating an electricity theft scheme to fuel a cryptocurrency mining operation across four locations in Malaysia. The suspects, comprising a manager and two technicians, were apprehended on July 22 and 23.

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The suspects, who are from Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, were arrested on July 22 and July 23.

According to Johor police chief Ab Rahaman Arsad, the syndicate had been active for approximately one month, operating in Johor Bahru, Iskandar Puteri, and Kulai. The group is believed to have mined cryptocurrency valued between RM80,000 (approximately S$25,200) and RM100,000 during this period. Their method involved directly tapping into electricity sources, bypassing official Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) meters to avoid detection and payment of electricity bills.

The targeted premises were a mix of houses and a shop lot, all rented by the syndicate through a third party. During raids conducted by the police, a significant haul of 71 cryptocurrency mining machines was confiscated, alongside computers, laptops, monitors, mobile phones, and other related hardware. The suspects, who reportedly earned about RM5,000 each per month from these illicit activities, are currently under a four-day remand order pending further investigation.

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Based on our initial investigation, the syndicate had been operating for about a month in Johor Bahru, Iskandar Puteri and Kulai.

The case underscores the growing challenges authorities face in combating sophisticated criminal operations that leverage technology and exploit infrastructure for financial gain. The investigation is ongoing, with police looking into the full extent of the syndicate's operations and network.

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The syndicate directly tapped electricity sources without going through legitimate TNB meters, allowing it to operate without paying electricity bills.