KUALA LUMPUR: The Immigration Department has cracked down on a Bitcoin mining syndicate spearheaded by Chinese nationals in a late-night operation on Friday.
The operation, which unfolded at 10pm, saw the coordinated efforts of officers and personnel from the Intelligence and Special Operations Division at the Immigration Headquarters in Putrajaya.
Immigration director-general Datuk Ruslin Jusoh said the operation was initiated following a month-long investigation spurred by complaints received by the Intelligence and Special Operations Division.
"Acting on the information gathered, the team raided a business premises and arrested two Chinese national men aged 28 and 33.
"The two men are believed to be responsible for operating the Bitcoin mining machines illegally and managing their maintenance," he said.
During the raid, Ruslin said the two foreigners failed to produce valid travel documents, claiming that an agent held the original documents.
He said the syndicate's modus operandi was to mine illegal Bitcoin under the disguise of operating a car-tinted business.
"The suspects also provided repair and maintenance services for other miners whose machines needed repairs. For this, they charged between RM100 and RM200 per Bitcoin miner.
"We seized RM12,600 in cash, 30 Bitcoin mining machines, two Bitcoin machine coolers, two CPU computers, one laptop, and two sets of testing equipment used for maintenance on the machines," Ruslin said in a statement.
He added that the pair have been operating for slightly over six months and generating a six-figure income monthly, about RM100,000 via mining.
"Both have been detained for violating the Immigration Act 1959/63 and Immigration Regulations 1963. They are currently held at the Immigration Depot in Putrajaya for further investigation," he said.