Officers of the Samegrelo–Upper Svaneti Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs have seized an additional 17 cryptocurrency mining devices during searches conducted in Mestia Municipality as part of an investigation into violations of energy consumption regulations. According to the Ministry, a total of 212 mining devices have been confiscated over the past three days.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs stated that the investigation has established that local residents were using these devices to generate digital currency through the illegal and unauthorized consumption of large amounts of electricity, thereby obtaining unlawful income on a systematic basis.

According to the Ministry, investigative activities are continuing to identify other individuals involved in the alleged offenses and to take appropriate legal measures against them.

The investigation is being conducted under Article 229¹, Part 2(b) of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which carries a penalty of up to three years of imprisonment.