Burglary report leads to illegal bitcoin mining discovery in Penang

[superadmin]

GEORGE TOWN: Police uncovered an illegal bitcoin mining operation and seized 149 machines worth RM150,000 at a shophouse in Bandar Baru Farlim here yesterday following a report on a break-in at the premises by its owner.

Timur Laut district police chief Soffian Santong said the owner, aged 23, lodged a report at 4pm last Friday claiming he was at home in Jelutong when he received a security warning on his mobile phone that the shophouse was broken into.

He said the owner rushed to the place and upon arriving there, saw seven men fleeing in a van and car.

“Acting on the report, police detected the van on the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway at 4.30pm and arrested two men, aged 34 and 37, as well as seized three computer components, believed stolen from the shophouse,” he said when contacted by Bernama today.

He said the two men, both locals and with previous records, including for drug-related offences, were remanded for three days for investigation.

- More -