Mexico Busts Illegal Crypto Mine Tapping Hydroelectric Dam

Mexican authorities have dismantled a large-scale cryptocurrency mining operation in the state of Puebla that was illegally drawing power from a federal hydroelectric complex. The operation, located in the municipality of Tlaola, was discovered to have approximately 300 specialized computers connected to electricity infrastructure associated with the Nuevo Necaxa hydroelectric dam. Officials are investigating the incident as a case of significant electricity theft, a practice known in Mexico as "huachicoleo of energy." The state security minister, Francisco Sánchez, stated that the immense energy consumption and noise generated by such operations often lead operators to seek out remote and isolated locations, which is how suspicious activity was detected near the dam. The Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) is participating in the investigation, alongside the Attorney General's Office and the Navy. Between January and July 2024, the CFE recorded non-technical losses totaling 6,346 gigawatt hours, valued at approximately 13.8 billion pesos, attributed to electricity theft, meter tampering, and illegal connections.