Brazil Police Seize 15 Bitcoin ASICs in Illegal Mining Raid

Authorities confiscated mining gear worth over 200,000 reais from a recycling station. Suspects arrested for electricity theft and trafficking.

Woofun AI reports that Brazilian law enforcement uncovered an unauthorized Bitcoin mining setup at a recycling facility during a scrap metal inspection. Officers seized 15 ASIC miners and 3 servers, with equipment valued at more than 200,000 reais (approximately 39,400 USD). While mining remains legal in Brazil, the operation involved illegal electricity tapping, causing Cemig to estimate monthly losses of 60,000 reais (about 11,800 USD). A 37-year-old employee was detained for theft and trafficking after failing to provide invoices, while cases were filed against two other individuals. Police are now tracing the flow of the mined cryptocurrency.