This footage was filmed and produced 16 April 2024.

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In a significant crackdown on illicit activities, the Guardia Civil has dismantled illegal cryptocurrency mining operations in four industrial warehouses located in Albacete and Chinchilla de Monte-Aragon. The operation, codenamed "Rabosot," has resulted in the arrest of three individuals and the investigation of another for electricity theft amounting to €160,000.

The clandestine operations came to light following a meticulous investigation by the Guardia Civil, initiated in July after detecting suspicious activities in industrial zones leased by individuals with prior criminal records. Suspicions were raised due to the unusually high electricity consumption in these otherwise dormant warehouses, suggesting potential involvement in illegal activities such as drug trafficking or cannabis cultivation.

Further inquiries revealed that the excessive power usage stemmed from illicit electrical connections, leading authorities to suspect the presence of cryptocurrency mining farms, commonly known as "granjas" in Spanish. These facilities house sophisticated computer systems tasked with decrypting codes to generate virtual currencies like Bitcoin.

During the operation, authorities seized 68 high-end computer systems used for Bitcoin mining, along with advanced cooling equipment, from the targeted warehouses. Illegal electrical connections were also uncovered, posing significant fire hazards and electrocution risks to individuals utilizing the premises.

Remarkably, the perpetrators had devised a sophisticated security system to automatically disconnect the illegal electrical infrastructure during inspections, evading detection and heightening operational security. Surveillance cameras and motion sensors further bolstered security measures at the facilities.