Police laid out the mining rigs at a parking lot at the police headquarters before they were flattened, a video of which has since gone viral, CNBC reported.

The machines were worth RM5.3 million.

Miri police chief Hakemal Hawari told the business portal that the crackdown came after miners allegedly siphoned RM8.4 million worth of electricity from Sarawak Energy Board (SEB) power lines.

The raid, which was conducted between February and April, was a joint operation by police and SEB.

Hawari also told CNBC that electricity theft by bitcoin miners led to three houses burning down in the city.

He also said there were no other active mining operations underway currently.

On Friday, Bernama reported that eight individuals were arrested for their involvement, six of whom were charged in court.

It is not illegal to mine cryptocurrencies in the country, although there are stringent laws around power use.