300 Mining Devices Discovered in Puebla, Mexico, Expanding Investigation into Power Theft

In Puebla, Mexico, approximately 300 mining computing devices were discovered at a facility, leading to an expanded investigation into power theft. The site also revealed transformers, 80 medium-voltage terminals, and 8 satellite internet antennas. The Puebla state government announced on September 6 that, in collaboration with federal prosecutors, the navy, and state security, they secured a facility suspected of illegal cryptocurrency mining in the Tlaola region. The focus of the investigation is more on the method of power connection than the mining itself, as evidence suggests that the facility operated through large-scale power connections near federal hydroelectric infrastructure. While cryptocurrency mining is not prohibited in Mexico, power theft is considered a crime. Puebla state authorities are conducting investigations in conjunction with the Federal Electricity Commission and plan to expand the investigation to nearby municipalities. Authorities are also looking into whether the secured assets were used to give a legitimate appearance to funds from illegal activities. This incident is related to repeated crackdowns on illegal mining operations in the Puebla region, where non-technical losses due to power theft and meter tampering reached 6,346 GWh from January to July 2024. Mining computing devices perform calculations necessary for blockchain transaction verification, and as the number of devices and power consumption increases, it significantly impacts mining profitability.