According to Odaily, authorities in Paraguay have seized nearly 400 Bitcoin mining machines in the city of Sapucai. This operation was jointly conducted by the police and the National Electricity Administration (ADE) as part of an investigation into suspected electricity theft.
Previously, the Paraguayan government urged lawmakers to pass a bill that would impose up to 10 years of imprisonment on illegal Bitcoin miners to counteract the massive electricity theft threatening the National Electricity Administration (ANDE). The bill stipulates that Paraguayan police and prosecutors have the right to confiscate and sell illegal mining machines to protect ANDE from the huge economic losses caused by energy theft.
In this crackdown, more than 5000 ASIC mining machines have been confiscated this year, and the legislative process may also lead to a temporary ban on Bitcoin mining in the country.