Officials in Mexico have unraveled a substantial crypto mining operation covertly tapping electricity from a federal hydroelectric dam’s infrastructure. The facility, located in the mountainous region of Tlaola municipality, Puebla, ran approximately 300 specialized mining machines.
Investigation Extends Beyond Puebla
During a raid, authorities confiscated transformers, medium-voltage equipment, nearly 300 processing units, and active satellite internet antennas. The main focus of the investigation is determining whether the system was illicitly connected to the Nuevo Necaxa hydroelectric dam’s infrastructure. Previously, authorities received tips about suspicious activities around the dam and subsequently discovered the unusual power connections. The investigation now extends beyond Tlaola to nearby municipalities and neighboring states to identify potential similar setups.
Authorities reveal that the scale of the seized equipment far surpasses typical individual installations, necessitating a detailed examination of the illegal connection allegations.
Which Cryptocurrency Was Mined?
Investigators have not yet identified the specific cryptocurrencies mined at the facility. They are also evaluating whether the operations were linked to money laundering activities. Crypto mining is recognized for its high energy consumption as it uses substantial computing power to verify transactions on blockchain networks.
This energy demand and the noise generated by the machines can drive operations to more secluded locations. The recent operation in Puebla shows that facilities established away from populated centers pose distinct monitoring challenges.
The Fourth Operation in 2025?
Reports indicate that Mexican authorities have dismantled three other crypto mining operations around Puebla and neighboring Tlaxcala state during 2025. This latest raid has increased the number of facilities suspected of energy theft in the area.
Similar instances have arisen in other countries. Data from Malaysia’s Ministry of Energy show that the national electricity company, Tenaga Nasional, faced around $1.11 billion in losses from 2020 through August 2025 due to power theft associated with crypto mining. Tenaga Nasional serves as Malaysia’s main electricity distributor.
In Malaysia, the estimated loss due to electricity theft reached approximately $1.11 billion from 2020 to August 2025, highlighting the international strain such activities impose on energy infrastructures.
- The illegal mining facility near the Nuevo Necaxa dam consisted of 300 specialized computers.
- Authorities are extending the investigation to nearby municipalities and states looking for similar illicit setups.
- There are uncertainties about the specific cryptocurrencies mined and potential connections to money laundering.
In the United States, a parallel incident occurred in Massachusetts, where police found an unauthorized crypto mining setup in a narrow technical space beneath Cohasset Middle High School. These cases underscore a pattern where unauthorized energy use fuels mining operations, leading to similar security and oversight challenges across different regions.
