Did Venezuela subsidize Bitcoin Miners run by criminals inside prison?

On September 20, 11,000 soldiers of the Venezuelan army regained control of the Tocorón prison, run by the criminal gang Tren de Aragua. Inside the prison: A nightclub, a swimming pool, a small zoo, a playground, and a Bitcoin (BTC) mining facility with dozens of what were identified as Bitcoin machines.

“Inmates could place bets on horse races, arrange loans at a makeshift bank and dance the night away at a nightclub dubbed ‘Tokio’”, says a report by BBC News on September 21.

“When food and everyday items were hard to come by in Venezuela at the height of the country’s economic crisis, one newspaper reported that locals would go to Tocorón to buy the essentials they could not get anywhere else.”

“Bitcoin machines” seized from Torocón prison. Source: AFP News

It is possible that the prison’s energy was still flowing as usual during the gang’s domain, but it is also possible that the criminals were illegally using third-party energy. No Bitcoin or crypto wallets were seized in the operation.