Five Vietnamese Men Arrested Over Theft of About 14 Tons of Copper Cable (Worth ¥22 Million) From Solar Facility in Hakui, Ishikawa
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.
In a case involving the theft of roughly 14 tons of copper cable, valued at about 22 million yen, from a solar power facility in Hakui, Ishikawa Prefecture, a joint investigation team made up of the Tsubata, Daishoji, and Hakui police stations together with six prefectural police forces including Ishikawa and Toyama announced on September 17, 2026 that it had arrested or re-arrested five Vietnamese nationals on suspicion of theft. According to the Hokkoku Shimbun and other outlets, those arrested include a 28-year-old unemployed man who gave his address as Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture; the 28-year-old was arrested on September 10 and the remaining four on September 17.
The five are accused of conspiring to steal copper cable from the facility between around 7 p.m. on June 13, 2026 and around 4 a.m. the following day. Among them, a 25-year-old man from Komaki City, Aichi Prefecture, who described himself as a part-time employee, was arrested for the first time in this case. The other four had previously been arrested on suspicion of stealing about three tons of copper cable, worth roughly 4.1 million yen, from a solar power facility in Tsubata, Ishikawa Prefecture, but that case has been left pending without a charging decision.
Current status: Where the stolen copper cable was resold and whether the five were involved in other incidents remain unclear as of this writing. This article will be updated as further details emerge.
Regarding copper theft targeting solar power facilities, two Vietnamese nationals were arrested in September 2026 over the theft of a combined 13 tons from sites in Fukui and Mie prefectures. Related article
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.