Indonesian police recently conducted a significant operation, raiding ten different sites and halting ten Bitcoin mining operations. During these raids, authorities confiscated 1,314 Bitcoin mining devices, along with electrical cables and various computer components.
The North Sumatra Police Force in Indonesia has been reported to have shut down Bitcoin mining activities at ten locations, accusing the operators of approximately 1 million dollars’ worth of electricity theft.
North Sumatra Police Inspector General Agung Setya held a press conference where he stated, “We acted against electricity theft yesterday. We targeted ten locations where we knew the stolen electricity was powering Bitcoin machines.”
According to Agung, the culprits stole electricity from state-owned PNL poles, and the theft is estimated to have occurred over the past six months. He explained how the devices appeared legitimate but were actually channeling electricity directly from the poles without proper metering.
Twenty-six individuals have been arrested in connection with the raids, but their legal identities have not yet been disclosed. The former Riau Police Chief did not share information on whether the ten different locations were controlled by the same person or group, stating that this is still part of the ongoing investigation.
During the raids at the ten different facilities, authorities seized 1,314 Bitcoin mining rigs, 11 computer CPU units, laptops, and other evidence. Electricity theft is a criminal offense in Indonesia as it is elsewhere, and the former chief affirmed that action would be taken against those involved. He emphasized the commitment to act against anyone involved in the electricity theft, reminding that everyone is equal before the law and referring to the relevant Electricity Law from 2009.