Bareskrim Names LC Beauty Cosmetics Suspect; Not Detained Due to Pregnancy

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The Directorate of Narcotics Crime of the Indonesian National Police’s Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim Polri) has named a woman with the initials ML (35) as a suspect in the production and distribution of illegal cosmetics branded LC Beauty, which contain dangerous substances mercury and hydroquinone.

However, the suspect has not been detained because she is nine weeks pregnant and in a post-operative condition.

This was supported by an examination by the Polri Medical and Forensic Centre (Pusdokkes Polri), which recommended that detention not be imposed, on medical grounds related to the suspect’s health.

The case came to light following an undercover purchase of LC Beauty products in January 2026.

Laboratory tests on the day cream, night cream, and toner showed the presence of mercury and hydroquinone.

The investigation subsequently traced several resellers in Pasuruan, East Java, and Depok, West Java.

According to RA’s statement, the goods were obtained from ML in Cirebon.

The team then moved to the production house at Jalan Galunggung Permai, Kelurahan Kecapi, Kecamatan Harjamukti, City of Cirebon, and conducted a raid on Friday, 27 February 2026, at around 17:00 WIB.

From the location, investigators seized thousands of jars of day cream and night cream that had been mixed with mercury, hundreds of bottles of toner containing hydroquinone, hydroquinone powder as a raw material, and various packaging ready for shipment.

“Laboratory tests on the LC Beauty day cream, night cream, and toner returned positive for the hazardous substances mercury and hydroquinone,” Eko said.

The police also seized production equipment such as a mixer, a plastic pressing machine, and one operational vehicle.

Based on the examination, ML admitted to producing and distributing the cosmetics from 2016 to 2019, having paused briefly, and resuming operations since 2022 to the present.