Fergana Miners Caught Embezzling Electricity Worth Nearly 1.4 Billion Soums
Five individuals in Uzbekistan have been detained for illegally using energy resources for cryptocurrency mining. The residents of Fergana and Kokand were caught after law enforcement officials, along with Uzenergoinspektsiya, conducted operations to identify cases of unauthorized energy consumption.
In Kokand, a 51-year-old resident was found to have 10 mining devices illegally connected to the power grid, resulting in the illegal use of electricity amounting to 638 million soums between 2021 and 2024. Similarly, in Fergana, a 35-year-old individual connected 11 mining devices to the power grid, causing damage estimated at 320 million 118 thousand soums. Another Fergana resident, aged 50, illegally used electricity worth 293 million 284 thousand soums by connecting 6 Antminer devices to the power grid.
Additionally, a 35-year-old citizen in Fergana installed three mining devices in his mother’s house and caused damage amounting to 77 million 585 thousand soums. In total, the five individuals collectively used electricity worth 1 billion 329 million 261 thousand soums.
Criminal cases have been initiated against the individuals under Article 169 (Theft) of the Criminal Code, and investigations are currently ongoing. The authorities are cracking down on illegal cryptocurrency mining activities to ensure compliance with energy regulations in Uzbekistan.
