Paraguay deports three undocumented immigrants after crypto mining theft attempt

Paraguayan authorities recently thwarted an attempted cryptocurrency mining equipment theft at a Teratech SA facility near the Itaipu hydroelectric dam. Four individuals were involved, resulting in three deportations and one arrest.

The incident unfolded on May 15th, as detailed in a statement by Paraguayan prosecutor Irene Rolón. Police apprehended the suspects shortly after they illegally entered a secured area of Teratech’s Coronel Bogado facility. Three of the suspects, Jinping Duan, Tian Jianyun, and Zheng Guanglong, were Chinese nationals lacking official Paraguayan entry records. Paraguayan authorities and Interpol suspect they entered the country illegally via Brazil or Bolivia. These three individuals were subsequently deported.

The fourth suspect, Nahun María Velázquez Garcete, a Paraguayan legal resident, was arrested and charged with aggravated theft. He remains in pretrial detention. Following his arrest, Garcete was hospitalized in critical condition, though the nature of his injuries remains undisclosed.

Prosecutor Rolón suspects the deported individuals may have been working illegally in Paraguay for several months, possibly as programmers. However, the exact nature of their relationship with Teratech SA remains unclear, pending confirmation from the company’s CEO. Investigations are ongoing to determine the extent of their involvement and whether they were acting alone or as part of a larger criminal organization. Paraguayan officials believe additional suspects are involved.

Paraguay’s abundant and underutilized renewable energy resources, particularly the excess electricity generated by the Itaipu dam, have made it an attractive location for cryptocurrency mining operations. This incident highlights the potential security challenges associated with this burgeoning industry, even in locations with favorable energy conditions. The investigation will shed light on the full scope of the attempted theft and the extent of any potential internal complicity within Teratech SA.