Police looking for cannabis farm find illegal crypto ‘mine’ instead
The IndependentFor free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A cryptocurrency “mine” which was stealing electricity worth thousands of pounds has been uncovered in the West Midlands Police said they executed a drugs warrant at an industrial estate in Sandwell on May 18 after receiving intelligence that the site was being used as a cannabis farm. But the West Midlands force said it instead found a huge bank of around 100 computer units as part of what is understood to be a Bitcoin mining operation. “No-one was at the unit at the time of the warrant and no arrests have been made – but we’ll be making inquiries with the unit’s owner.” The warrant was one of almost 50 executed as part of County Lines Intensification Week, which led to 84 arrests, significant drug seizures and the recovery of weapons including a sawn-off shotgun and a blank firing pistol converted to discharge live rounds, the force said.
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