Angola Stops 25 Underground Chinese Mining Farms
Date: 2025-08-25 Author: Oliver Abernathy Categories: IN WORLD
A major operation called "Serengeti 2.0" has been completed in Angola. The goal of the operation was to identify and shut down illegal mining farms. Interpol reported that Chinese groups used extensive schemes to organize underground businesses, including building their own illegal electrical substations that supplied the equipment with energy.
During a series of raids, the country's security forces detained more than 60 Chinese citizens. According to the authorities, equipment for mining digital assets worth about $37 million was seized from them. At the same time, they managed to shut down and close more than 40 underground energy facilities involved in the operation of mining farms.
The ban on cryptocurrency mining has been in effect in Angola since April 2024. The country's legislation provides for severe penalties for violators: owning mining equipment or participating in its infrastructure can result in imprisonment for a term of one to five years. All equipment is subject to confiscation in favor of the state.
The Chinese embassy has previously addressed its citizens living in Angola with a warning to refrain from mining. Diplomats emphasized that such activity is considered by local authorities as a criminal offense and carries a high risk of criminal prosecution.
Experts note that interest in illegal mining in Angola was primarily associated with relatively cheap electricity and weak control in certain regions. However, increased cooperation between local authorities and international structures, including Interpol, has significantly complicated the work of underground farms.
Operation Serengeti 2.0 was one of the largest in the region and demonstrated the authorities' determination to harshly suppress any attempts to circumvent the law. According to law enforcement officials, the fight against illegal mining will continue, and the identified cases will be considered as a priority in the area of economic security of the country.
Thus, the liquidation of 25 Chinese mining farms in Angola confirms the state's course towards a complete ban on crypto mining and demonstrates its readiness to apply the strictest measures against violators.
