The Venezuelan authorities successfully regained control of the Tocoron prison, which had been occupied by inmates, and in the process, they seized Bitcoin (BTC) mining equipment, rocket launchers, and various other items.
On September 21, the military forces involved in the operation disclosed the discovery of not only Bitcoin mining hardware but also dangerous weaponry, including machine gun ammunition belts, buckets of bullets, snipers, explosives, and rocket launchers.
This extensive raid, which unfolded on a Wednesday, mobilized more than 11,000 police and soldiers equipped with high-grade weaponry, all working to reclaim the facility from the Tren de Aragua gang.
Authorities further unveiled that the gang had transformed the prison into a complex referred to as the “little city,” revealing the presence of a nightclub, a swimming pool, a zoo, and even a casino within the confines of the prison.
President Maduro, expressing his thoughts on the matter, took to X (formerly Twitter) to commend the troops and express his vision for a gang-free Venezuela: “I congratulate the more than 11,000 members of the FANB [National Bolivarian Armed Forces of Venezuela] and police forces for the successful intervention of the Tocoron Penitentiary Center. We are moving toward a Venezuela free of criminal gangs!”
Interior and Justice Minister Remigio Ceballos underscored that one soldier lost his life during the meticulously planned operation, which had been in preparation for a year. He emphasized that all criminals and their associates would face justice.
“There will be no room for impunity. We are committed to pursuing all criminals and their collaborators. This successful operation allowed us to strike a significant blow against criminal organizations.”
The facility also saw the evacuation of inmates’ wives or girlfriends, and it was later revealed that zoo animals housed within the prison had tragically perished due to extensive fires ignited by the prisoners.
Venezuelan Mining Challenges:
Mining activities have gained popularity in Venezuela, primarily due to the availability of cheap electricity resulting from government subsidies and the country’s high inflation rates. Bitcoin (BTC) has been rapidly gaining traction among the local population.
As mining costs per coin in Venezuelan became more favorable compared to other regions, an increasing number of miners migrated to the country, placing considerable strain on the national power grid.
Regulatory authorities in Venezuelan have officially prohibited cryptocurrency mining activities, with the government aiming to alleviate frequent electricity blackouts.
However, it is worth noting that observers suggest that mining operations continue to operate clandestinely in the country, although the scale remains uncertain. Video reports have indicated that the mining hardware discovered at the facility consisted of older versions of Bitmain’s Antminers.
On a global scale, miners in some jurisdictions have faced similar crackdowns, with governments citing environmental and energy-related concerns as the basis for their actions.
