Luganville businesswoman jailed in VT143M cigarette smuggling case
April 9, 2026 11:00 pm | Posted in Business News | Share now TwitterFacebook
By Terence Malapa.
The Supreme Court of Vanuatu has sentenced prominent Luganville businesswoman Zhiqiong Huang, owner of H Store and Nemo Motel and co-operator of Santo Nambawan Store, to imprisonment after she admitted attempting to bribe customs officials to release a container carrying undeclared cigarettes in a case involving more than VT143 million in unpaid duties.
In Public Prosecutor v Zhiqiong Huang [2026] VUSC 74, Justice Josaia Naigulevu imposed a total sentence of 24 months’ imprisonment on two counts of corruption and bribery of public officials, with 12 months to be served immediately and the remaining 12 months suspended for one year.
The case stems from the arrival of a shipping container in Luganville on 23 July 2025. Huang, a Chinese national residing in Vanuatu on an investor visa, lodged a customs declaration stating the container held 450 cartons of napkins valued at USD18,000. However, customs later uncovered that the shipment actually contained large quantities of cigarettes concealed behind false documentation.
Evidence before the Court revealed that between 24 and 25 July 2025, Huang made repeated contact with Customs Officer Jules Sesai requesting an urgent meeting. During a meeting at the wharf, she handed him a bag containing VT1.5 million in cash and asked him to assist in releasing the container without inspection. The officer refused and reported the matter to his superiors.
Huang later escalated her attempts by offering a further VT1 million to the same officer and contacting another customs officer to cancel the scheduled inspection. Investigations eventually confirmed that the container held 420 cartons of Peter Jackson Virginia cigarettes, 11 cartons of Chinese cigarette brands, and only 19 cartons of napkins. Customs authorities assessed the unpaid duty at VT143,820,550.
During a police interview, Huang admitted submitting a false invoice and declaration, delivering VT1.5 million as a bribe, and offering an additional VT1 million to influence officials. She pleaded guilty to two counts under section 73(2) of the Penal Code.
In sentencing, Justice Naigulevu stressed that bribery is a serious offence that undermines public institutions, weakens the rule of law, and threatens national economic stability. The Court highlighted several aggravating factors, including the deliberate planning of the offence, use of deception through false documentation, repeated bribery attempts, the substantial sums of money involved, and the significant potential loss of government revenue.
A starting point of four years’ imprisonment was adopted, reflecting the seriousness of the offending. The sentence was reduced by 25 percent for Huang’s early guilty plea and further reduced to account for her previously clean record, positive character references, and contributions to the Luganville community. However, the Court gave little weight to claims that she was influenced by her husband or cultural factors, noting there was no supporting evidence.
The Court ultimately imposed a sentence of 24 months’ imprisonment on each count, to run concurrently. Huang will serve 12 months immediately, backdated to 19 August 2025 when she was remanded in custody, while the remaining 12 months is suspended for one year. She was also fined VT1 million, payable within three months.
In addition, all monies used in the bribery attempts are to be forfeited to the State and paid into the national treasury within 14 days.
Justice Naigulevu reaffirmed the Court’s firm stance that bribery will not be tolerated in Vanuatu, emphasising deterrence and the need to protect public confidence in government institutions. The Court also commended the customs officers involved for their integrity in refusing the bribes and reporting the matter.
