Two Vietnamese Nationals Arrested Over Stealing 13 Tons of Copper Cable Worth ¥55 Million From Solar Facilities in Joint Six-Prefecture Investigation
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.
A joint investigation team from six prefectural police forces, including Fukui and Mie, announced on September 11, 2026 that they had arrested two Vietnamese nationals, both company employees residing in Kakamigahara City, Gifu Prefecture: Go Chi Tai, 27, and Nguyen Van Binh, 25, on suspicion of theft. According to the Fukui Shimbun and other outlets, the two are accused of conspiring with others to steal 148 copper cables, worth a combined estimated 54.48 million yen, from three solar power facilities — two in Awara City, Fukui Prefecture, and one in Shima City, Mie Prefecture — between around May 12 and 14, 2026.
The scheme reportedly began when Go saw a social media post recruiting drivers for a part-time job and invited his colleague Nguyen to apply; the two then received instructions through a highly secure messaging app and carried out the theft. The stolen copper was sold to a metal buyer in Aichi Prefecture using false names on the transaction documents. Both suspects have denied the allegations. Similar thefts have occurred nationwide with the on-the-ground operatives frequently changing, leading police to investigate the case as the work of an anonymous, fluid criminal group ("tokuryu").
Current status: The identity of whoever issued the instructions and whether the case will be referred for prosecution remain unclear as of this writing. This article will be updated as further details emerge.
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.