Mexican Forces Seize 130 Crypto Mining Machines in Culiacán

Mexican soldiers and Sinaloa state police seized 130 cryptocurrency mining machines in Culiacán after authorities reported finding a clandestine electricity connection at the site, according to Mexico’s federal Security Cabinet.

The seizure was disclosed on November 9 in a bulletin covering operations conducted November 6–8. The government’s entry did not specify the exact day of the operation or identify the neighborhood where the equipment was found.

Authorities also seized three electrical transformers, including two pad-mounted units, along with a closed-circuit surveillance system and four cameras. Letra Roja reported that the installation drew electricity through an illegal connection to the public supply network.

Photographs accompanying the outlet’s report show rows of mining machines stacked on metal shelving, extensive cabling and electrical distribution equipment. Another photograph shows a large green transformer inside the property.

The federal bulletin did not identify the operators or report any arrests associated with the mining equipment. It also provided no estimate of electricity losses, identified no cryptocurrency being mined and made no allegation linking the installation to a specific cartel or money laundering operation.

Electricity is a major operating expense for cryptocurrency mining. On networks using proof of work, such as Bitcoin, specialized computers perform calculations to add transactions to the blockchain and earn cryptocurrency rewards. Power is needed both to run the machines and to keep the equipment from overheating, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

The Culiacán seizure follows a separate operation reported in Tlaola, Puebla, on November 5. In that case, federal security personnel, prosecutors and Navy personnel searched a property described as a clandestine cryptocurrency farm, arrested one person and seized 50 mining units, a three-phase electrical transformer and other equipment.

Neither federal report establishes a connection between the two installations.

Culiacán photographs published by Letra Roja. Photographer not identified in the source report.