Two Vietnamese Men Arrested Over Theft of 2.2 Tons of Solar Farm Transmission Cable; First Use of Toyama's Metal Theft Prevention Law
This article organizes publicly available information into a single account. Where it describes an arrest or an ongoing investigation, that reflects only one stage of criminal procedure and does not mean guilt has been established (the presumption of innocence applies). We will update this article as new information becomes available, including the outcome of prosecution, non-prosecution, or trial. This article is not intended to unfairly disparage any individual, group, nationality, ethnicity, or belief, and aims to provide objective, fact-based information.
Toyama Prefectural Police announced by August 2026 that it had arrested two Vietnamese nationals of no fixed address and unemployed, Ngo Van Hai, 24, and Nguyen Long Vo, 24, on suspicion of theft. According to reports by North Japan Broadcasting and other outlets, they are accused of stealing a total of approximately 2.2 tons of copper transmission cable, valued at roughly 3.3 million yen, from a solar power facility in Himi City, Toyama Prefecture, in two separate incidents between July 16 and 18 of that year.
Roughly half of the stolen copper is believed to have already been sold, and police are investigating the case as a resale-motivated crime while looking into possible accomplices and additional offenses. This marks the first enforcement in Toyama Prefecture under the Metal Theft Prevention Act, which took effect in September 2025 and bans possessing designated metal-cutting tools without justification, among other provisions.
Current status: Whether the case will be referred for prosecution, and the full scope of the resale network and any accomplices, remain unclear as of this writing. This article will be updated as further details emerge.
Regarding metal theft targeting solar power facilities, similar methods by foreign theft rings have been reported in various regions, with renewable energy infrastructure increasingly targeted by thieves.
Editorial Perspective
No decision on indictment has been made at this stage, so this article reflects information from the investigative phase. An arrest is only one step in criminal procedure and does not establish guilt (the presumption of innocence). According to National Police Agency and Ministry of Justice statistics, the number of Penal Code cases involving foreign nationals visiting Japan has risen for two consecutive years since 2023, but remains below its mid-2000s peak (related article). A single case does not necessarily reflect the broader statistical trend; further developments are worth watching.