Highway Police Arrest Two for Stealing Copper Wire from Highway Lights
Highway police arrested two men in Ubon Ratchathani for cutting highway lighting cables to sell copper for drugs, causing blackouts on a key tourist route.
Highway Police arrested two young men who crept along a highway cutting lighting cables to sell the copper for drug money, causing damage worth hundreds of thousands of baht. Authorities also warned scrap dealers they could face charges for receiving stolen goods.
On October 28, 2026, the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), through the Highway Police Division (HPD) under the command of Pol. Lt. Gen. Bunlue Phadungthin, HPD Commissioner; Pol. Maj. Gen. Phichanruch Kulwimolprathip, Deputy Commissioner; Pol. Maj. Gen. Wisanu Khammuang, Chief of Sub-Division 6; Pol. Lt. Col. Jirapan Rujirakun, Deputy Chief of Sub-Division 6; Pol. Lt. Col. Thanaphon Yotkanha, Deputy Chief of Sub-Division 6; and Pol. Lt. Col. Natiruj Wathanachatratt, Superintendent of Highway Police Sub-Division 4, Sub-Division 6, led an arrest team headed by Pol. Lt. Col. Somphoch Buncharaya, Deputy Superintendent of Highway Police Sub-Division 4, Sub-Division 6, along with Pol. Sgt. Maj. Bunruam Muanmat, Pol. Sgt. Maj. Pradit Phloiwile, Pol. Sgt. Nichakorn Ketsamsipuan, Pol. Sgt. Kiattisak Phakhamruak, Pol. Sgt. Anatcha Phuakham, Pol. Sgt. Khunwut Phrommala, and Pol. Sgt. Thawatchai Thasujai, a volunteer district chief assistant, coordinating with Sirindhorn Police Station officers and Highway Police District 2, Ubon Ratchathani officers, to arrest two suspects.
The suspects are Mr. Anuwat (alias "Lek", surname withheld), 26, under Ubon Ratchathani Provincial Court arrest warrant No. 670/2026 dated October 27, 2026, and Mr. Pirapat (alias "Pee", surname withheld), 21, under warrant No. 671/2026 dated October 27, 2026. They are charged with "jointly stealing property used for public benefit during daytime and nighttime, and using Category 1 narcotics (methamphetamine) in violation of the law."
Seized evidence includes a red-black Honda Wave 110i motorcycle (no license plate), clothing, black helmet and boots worn during the crime (seized from suspects' homes), half a sack of stripped cable insulation (from suspects' homes), 2 kg of stripped copper wire and copper wire coils (seized from a scrap shop), cable-cutting tools (cable cutters, screwdrivers, knives, insulated gloves, headlamps) from suspects' homes, and drug paraphernalia (from suspects' homes). The arrest took place in Nikhom Sang Ton Eng Lam Dom Noi Subdistrict, Sirindhorn District, Ubon Ratchathani Province.
The investigation began after incidents on October 25-26, 2026, when perpetrators broke into three lighting control boxes and cut highway cables on Highway 217 (km 70-73), the entrance to Sirindhorn Dam, Khampong Kaeo Subdistrict, Sirindhorn District, Ubon Ratchathani. This caused a total blackout of highway lighting over a long stretch, endangering motorists and risking serious accidents. The area is a vital route to Sirindhorn Dam, the Chong Mek permanent border crossing, and key tourist sites in Ubon Ratchathani.
Highway Police District 2 filed a complaint with Sirindhorn Police investigators and coordinated with Ubon Ratchathani Highway Police to pursue the culprits. Highway Police collaborated with Sirindhorn Police investigators and Highway Police District 2 to examine the crime scenes and track suspects via CCTV along the route, positively identifying the perpetrators as Mr. Anuwat, 26, and Mr. Pirapat, 21, local youths with prior theft records. The investigation report was submitted to Ubon Ratchathani Provincial Court.
