Malaysia Raids Crypto Mining Dens in Port Klang Free Zone

Malaysian police raided and dismantled illegal cryptocurrency mining dens hidden inside the Port Klang Free Trade Zone, arresting suspects linked to electricity theft that has cost the country an estimated $1.1 billion in cumulative losses, The Star reported.

The operation targeted facilities operating covertly among legitimate industrial tenants in one of Malaysia's largest logistics hubs. The zone's high-capacity power connections and large warehouse spaces make it attractive for concealing energy-intensive mining rigs. The constant hum of industrial activity helps mask the noise and heat that mining hardware produces, complicating routine inspections, New Straits Times reported.

The core allegation is electricity theft, not cryptocurrency mining itself. Malaysian law treats unauthorized power consumption as a criminal offense under the Electricity Supply Act. Convictions can carry fines and imprisonment, and utility companies also pursue civil recovery for stolen power.

This raid follows a pattern of enforcement. In February 2026, the Energy Commission seized Bitcoin mining machines worth over RM2 million in an integrated operation codenamed OPS RENJAT, conducted jointly with police. Authorities have escalated crackdowns in industrial zones and warehouses across the country as the scale of power theft has drawn attention to the drain on Malaysia's energy infrastructure.