A major raid in Venezuela has exposed illegal activities in the crypto world. Bitcoin mining machines were an unexpected piece of technology seized by authorities in Tocorón, one of the country’s most dangerous prisons. Here are the details behind this dramatic operation and what this event means for the crypto world.
Bitcoin mining machines seized in Venezuela prison
During a major prison raid in Venezuela, authorities found that the criminals were not only armed with rocket launchers, grenades and bullets. He also seized Bitcoin mining machines.
This week, 11,000 soldiers raided the Tocorón prison, targeting Venezuela’s most powerful organized crime group. According to the official statement from the government, this raid took place in the state of Aragua. Bitcoin mining machines were also seized along with weapons during the raid. Videos shared on Twitter showed images of a building full of these machines.
Comunicado: Se informa a la colectividad que está en curso la operación de liberación “Cacique Guaicaipuro”.#FANB#LiberaciónDeTocorón pic.twitter.com/RqQO2nbcVk
— GJ. Domingo Hernández Lárez (@dhernandezlarez) September 20, 2023
Minister of Internal Affairs and Justice Remigio Ceballos stated that the operation was a successful blow against criminal groups. Tocorón prison was under the control of criminals for years. This prison has facilities such as a swimming pool and mini zoo. Venezuelan prisons are notoriously overcrowded and dangerous.
Background
The raid is the first operation against the fearsome criminal organization called Tren de Aragua. This group is involved in many activities in Venezuela and other countries in the region, from drug and human trafficking to extortion.
Bitcoin mining machines are used to mine new cryptocurrencies and keep the Bitcoin Blockchain safe. A lot of electricity is consumed in this energy-intensive process. However, this expense is compensated by new cryptocurrencies. For this reason, illegal mining becomes one of the weapons sought by criminal organizations. A report published by Coin Metrics earlier this year showed that Bitcoin miners earned a total of $184 million in transaction fees between April and June alone.
However, this is not the first time criminals in Latin America have tried to produce cryptocurrencies. Just two weeks ago, Chilean police discovered that a drug trafficking ring had an operational Bitcoin mining operation in Santiago.
Bitcoin mining shock in drug operation in Chile
A police raid in Santiago, Chile, uncovered not only illegal drugs. It also revealed an active Bitcoin mining operation. According to El Mostrador, police found working Bitcoin mining machines along with drugs in a house in the La Cisterna area. Authorities at the scene determined that these machines were used for Bitcoin mining.
Eduardo Gatica, head of the Anti-Narcotics Brigade, emphasized that this incident is unprecedented. It went down in history as the first case in which Bitcoin mining and drug trafficking were so directly linked. Authorities suspect the mining operation was potentially funded by proceeds from drug dealing. The incident is a new example of how deep the relationship between cryptocurrencies and crime is.
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