Bitcoin Miners Found in Venezuelan Jail Raid
Venezuelan authorities discovered Bitcoin miners during a raid on the Tocoron National Penitentiary. The operation involved 11,000 military and police officers who aimed to liberate the complex from the control of the Aragua’s Train gang. The aftermath video of the raid revealed an undisclosed number of Bitcoin miners in a room that served as a mining farm. Alongside the miners, weapons of war such as rocket launchers, grenades, rifles, ammunition, and C4 mines were also found.
Eccentricities Inside the Jail
Aside from the Bitcoin miners and weapons, other surprising findings were made inside the prison complex. These included swimming pools, a discotheque where inmates held lavish parties, a baseball stadium, and even a makeshift zoo. Additionally, bicycles, ice cream stalls, restaurants, and a children’s park were discovered. The authorities have announced plans to transfer over 1,600 inmates to other facilities and close down Tocoron.
Registered Venezuelan Bitcoin Miners Left in the Dark
While inmates had access to a micro mining farm, registered and legal Bitcoin miners in Venezuela have been left without power for over six months due to a government intervention that disrupted Sunacrip, the Venezuelan cryptocurrency watchdog. Juan Blanco Bracamonte, a former miner, raised questions about the existence of these farms within a national jail. He questioned who authorized their placement, managed them, received the funds generated by them, authorized their electricity consumption, and paid for their electricity usage.
Sunacrip’s former head, Joselit Ramirez, was arrested for alleged involvement in a corruption scheme worth over $20 billion. As a result of this intervention and arrest, registered cryptocurrency farms have been disconnected from the grid by Corpoelec, the state power company. Alejandro Blanco, counsel for Asonacrip, a national cryptocurrency association, expressed concern that these measures put miners who have followed the legal system at risk.
Hot Take: The Hidden World of Venezuelan Prisons
The recent raid on the Tocoron National Penitentiary in Venezuela has shed light on the hidden world within the country’s prisons. In addition to finding Bitcoin miners and weapons of war, authorities discovered luxurious amenities such as swimming pools and discotheques. This shocking revelation exposes the extent of corruption and criminal activities that take place behind bars. It also raises questions about the government’s ability to control its own prisons and enforce regulations on legal Bitcoin miners. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by Venezuela in maintaining law and order within its correctional facilities.
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