Brazilian Bitcoin miner robbed in Paraguay, case ends in shootout

A violent confrontation between criminals and the police took place in the early hours of September 9, 2024, in the San José neighborhood of Ciudad del Este, Paraguay. The incident occurred after the theft of 15 Bitcoin mining equipment (ASICs), belonging to Brazilian Anderson de Melo Barros Da Rocha. The armed robbers exchanged gunfire with the police. However, they managed to escape with most of the mining devices.

After being called, the police arrived quickly on the scene. When they confronted the criminals, they responded with gunfire. The officers were able to recover seven of the stolen machines, which are now in the custody of the authorities for investigation. In addition, the officers detained one of the people involved in the theft. However, the other criminals managed to escape with the remaining equipment.

Paraguay, with its low electricity rates and favorable regulations, has become a hub for cryptocurrency miners. Abundant hydroelectric power, mainly generated by the Itaipu dam, attracts both local and international investors. However, this growth has also brought an increase in crimes related to illegal Bitcoin mining.

The incident in Ciudad del Este reflects a growing trend of robberies and illegal operations in the cryptocurrency sector in the country. Recently, the National Secretariat for the Administration of Unsecured and Committed Assets (Senabico) handed over more than 500 Bitcoin mining machines to the National Electricity Administration (ANDE).

These machines had been confiscated in previous operations, highlighting the authorities’ efforts to combat electricity theft and illegal mining.

Bitcoin Mining in Paraguay

Joaquín Morínigo, a Paraguayan energy and cryptocurrency consultant, has highlighted in recent interviews that the lack of stricter regulations facilitates the proliferation of clandestine mining pools. These operations, in addition to using energy illegally, are also associated with criminal activities, such as money laundering.

This violent incident in Ciudad del Este is just one more example of the challenges faced by Paraguayan authorities in combating illegal Bitcoin mining. In addition to frequent cases of equipment theft, there are also growing concerns about corruption and a lack of adequate oversight. This allows criminal operations to continue to exploit the country’s resources.