The Bolivarian National Guard of Venezuela also known as GNB has intercepted the supply of smuggled Antminer 9 cryptocurrency mining rigs.
En el PAC “Peaje Guayana” del @GNB_BolivarD625, se retuvieron 315 máquinas Bitcoin que eran transportadas en un camión 350, por no poseer la permisología emitida por la Superintendencia Nacional de Criptoactivos. #6Jul #FANB GNBCuidandoDelPueblo #CuarentenaRadicalPreventiva pic.twitter.com/d9dJGgThLw
— GNB BOLÍVAR 😷👍 (@GNB_CZBolivar) July 6, 2020
According to the GNB's announcement on Twitter, it seized a truck with 315 mining rigs of Antminer developed by Bitmain, a Chinese bitcoin hardware maker.
According to local media outlet CriptoNoticias, the GNB seized 315 mining rigs of Antminer from Chinese bitcoin (EXANTE: Bitcoin) hardware maker Bitmain in southern Venezuela.
Due to the local lockdown related to the COVID-19 pandemic, Venezuela's president Nicolás Maduro restricted freedom of transit throughout the national territory, with government authorization being essential for interstate mobilization.
The truck's driver was reportedly asked by the GNB's representative to show the necessary ownership and registration papers for the bitcoin mining activity in Venezuela. Having no requested documents, the GNB decided to seize the equipment.
Currently, the case is in the National Superintendence of Cryptoassets and Related Activities (Sunacrip), the highest authority on cryptocurrencies in Venezuela.
In June, the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations office in New York announced it had added Venezuela's superintendent of cryptos to its list of Most Wanted people.
Joselit de la Trinidad Ramírez Camacho had been accused of "having deep political, social and economic ties to multiple alleged narcotics kingpin."
The office offers a $5 million reward for any information that could help catch the suspects.
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