The National Spanish Police raided and dismantled an illegal cryptocurrency farm that operated in Spain in the region of Toledo. The farm operated with an illegal connection to the power grid, defrauding thousands of euros from the power company. The farm had more than 100 mining machines and sophisticated climatization equipment.
Illegal Cryptocurrency Farm Raided in Spain
The National Police raided and dismantled a cryptocurrency mining farm that operated through an illegal connection to the power grid in the region of Toledo, in Spain. A video shared on social media shows the procedure that agents did to gain entrance to the farm, breaking the front door and entering the premises of the house located in the region of Toledo. Agents were alerted about the occurrence due to the unusual amount of heat that was emitted by the house associated with very high energy consumption.
A woman was arrested on the alleged charges of fraud to the power utility company. cryptocurrency mining is a perfectly legal occupation in the country, as long as miners pay for their power expenses. The farm had more than 100 miners operating, and an elaborated ventilation and refrigeration system, according to police reports. The woman had to connect illegally to the grid to enjoy profits since cryptocurrency mining is an energy-intensive task.
The investigation remains open to fully clarify the facts behind this crime, and to find if there is a money laundering connection. However, local media reports that the search party was expecting something more common in the area: a cannabis farm.
Not the First Time
This is not the first time that a cryptocurrency farm is confused with a cannabis farm. On May 28, a unit of the UK police raided what they thought was a cannabis farm, only to find a big cryptocurrency mining operation. The intelligence behind the raid indicated there were signs associated with classic cannabis farms as the heat print detected and the high transit of people associated with the property.
In that case, the farm was also stealing power from the power grid, stealing thousands of pounds from the utility company in the country. This kind of theft is likely to keep happening as long as the Bitcoin mining difficulty keeps growing and more equipment gets outdated to keep maintaining a decent level of profit for miners.
This doesn’t constitute a major crime in Spain, and it is charged with a penalty fee of 12 months of payment maximum.
source link: https://news.bitcoin.com/spanish-police-raid-illegal-cryptocurrency-mining-farm-in-spain/
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