Officers of the Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, as a result of searches conducted in Mestia Municipality, seized an additional 76 so-called cryptocurrency miners as evidence.

According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, as part of an investigation into alleged violations of the rules governing the use of energy resources, law enforcement officers have seized a total of 330 so-called miners.

“The investigation has established that, through the use of these devices, local residents were systematically generating digital currency and obtaining illegal income by unlawfully consuming large amounts of electricity.

Law enforcement officers are continuing intensive investigative activities to identify other individuals involved in the alleged crime and to take appropriate legal measures against them.

The investigation is being conducted under Article 229, Part 2, Subparagraph ‘b’ of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which provides imprisonment for up to three years,” the MIA said in a statement.