Suspected illegal mining operation uncovered in Mexico mountains, possibly linked to drug cartel money laundering Reuters reports that police in Puebla, Mexico, discovered a suspected illegal cryptocurrency mining site in a remote mountainous area. Authorities seized approximately 300 GPUs, 80 medium-voltage power terminals, and 8 satellite antennas at the scene. Although the mining operation is not large in scale, it is the fourth such facility discovered in the area since early 2025. Officials are investigating whether the site was stealing electricity from a nearby hydroelectric power station. Since electricity costs are the primary expense in crypto mining, operating through stolen power allows criminal groups to almost entirely eliminate core costs, using crypto assets to transfer and cash out funds to conceal illegal sources of money. Analysts suggest that Mexican drug cartels are increasingly using cryptocurrency for financial crimes and money laundering.