- The illegal mining operation had allegedly been active since May this year.
- During the raid, the authorities discovered 500 crypto mining rigs.
- It is still unclear whether the arrested man ran the operation by himself.
Russian authorities have apprehended an illegal crypto miner for allegedly stealing electricity worth more than £387,000 from the state power network. A report unveiled this news on June 6, noting that the suspect is a 30-year-old man that resided in Makhachkala, Russia. The miner reportedly created an illegal huge crypto-mining structure that connected approximately 500 platforms to the local power supply network.
Per the publication, the suspect established the crypto mining scheme in May this year. He allegedly rented the third floor of a construction base in a non-residential location in the suburban village of Khushet. The 30-year-old then developed a mining farm that saw him mine altcoins and bitcoins (BTC). To run his activities, the man purportedly made an illegal connection to the power line that ran along the construction site. He then redirected the power to the specialized mining equipment.
It is still unknown how much the illegal mining operation made
After raiding the mining farm, the police discovered computer components and 518 crypto mining rigs. After arresting the miner, law enforcement officers opened a criminal case against him for causing property damage by fraud and breach of trust. The police also launched a preliminary investigation to determine whether the 30-year-old was the sole perpetrator.
The authorities, however, did not disclose which altcoins the suspected was mining prior to the bust. They also failed to mention how much profits the scheme made during the short period that the rigs were active.
A hotbed for illegal crypto mining
This news comes after Russian police arrested a former post office worker for mining crypto illegally at work. Reportedly, the arrested man was the chief of the post office branch in Mineralnye Vody and had operated the illegal mining scheme inside the office for close to six months before discovery. Per authorities behind the investigation, the mining operation saw the Federal Postal Service of Stavropol Territory suffered damages amounting to £370.
In another similar case, Russian authorities discovered and shut down an illegal BTC mining operation in March this year. According to the police, the operation comprised 10 St Petersburg residents. They allegedly stole approximately £157,000 worth of electricity from the country’s electricity grid every month. During the raid, the police found 1,500 crypto mining rigs, 100 altered electrical meters and smartphones that contained incriminating evidence, and £22,824 in cash.
Do you think the criminal activities associated with crypto mining could be a deterrent factor in the adoption of crypto? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.