Illegal Cosmetics Producer in Cirebon Charged; Owner Faces Up to 12 Years in Prison
Directorate of Narcotics Crime (Dittipidnarkoba) of the Indonesian Police’s Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim) has uncovered the production and distribution of illegal cosmetics branded LC Beauty in Cirebon, West Java. ML, aged 35, owner of an unlicensed cosmetics home industry which contains hazardous substances, has been named a suspect.
Brigadier General Eko Hadi Santoso of Dittipidnarkoba Bareskrim explained that the discovery began from analysis and undercover purchases conducted by investigators in January 2026 on LC Beauty products. Investigators then conducted laboratory tests on day cream, night cream, and toner.
“From the laboratory tests, the cosmetics were found to contain hazardous substances mercury and hydroquinone,” said Brig Gen Eko, through a statement on Wednesday 4 May 2026.
Information from resellers consulted indicated that the illegal cosmetics came from an individual with the initials RA in Depok, West Java. The team then traced RA.
“On Thursday, 26 February, the team observed RA and AP unloading several boxes to be shipped via KAI Logistics and found LC Beauty cosmetics without BPOM approval,” Eko said.
RA admitted that the cosmetics were obtained from someone with the initials ML in Cirebon. Upon arriving in Cirebon, the team learnt that the illegal production site was located in Harjamukti, Cirebon.
Following a sequence of investigations, on Friday 27 February 2026 around 17:00 local time, the team located the suspect ML who was at that time with her husband, JN. The team then moved to the production site operating out of a house on Jalan Galunggung Permai, Harjamukti, Cirebon.
Around 18:00, the team arrived at the location and conducted a search. The site yielded a range of evidence including raw materials, finished products, bottle and jar packaging, production and mixing equipment, packaging labels, and packing materials.
During initial questioning, ML admitted that she produced and distributed LC Beauty cosmetics without BPOM approval and that they contained mercury and hydroquinone from 2016 to 2019. She had paused production briefly, but resumed from 2022 to the present.
“ML acknowledges and confirms that she produced and distributed LC Beauty cosmetics that did not have BPOM approval and that contained mercury and hydroquinone,” Eko added.
The hazardous substances mercury and hydroquinone were said to have been obtained through individual purchases by one of ML’s workers. According to the worker, the materials were sourced from a market in the Jakarta area.
Police have named ML as a suspect. However, she has not been detained because she is nine weeks pregnant and recently underwent surgery.
For her actions, ML faces charges under Article 435 of the Republic of Indonesia (UU RI) No. 17 of 2023 on Health read in conjunction with Appendix I Number 181 of UU RI No. 1 of 2026 on Criminal Provisions Adjustments. The suspect faces a maximum prison sentence of 12 years or a fine of up to Rp 2 billion.
Investigators will also call criminology and BPOM experts for questioning, and may open the possibility of money laundering (TPPU) charges once the main criminal investigation is completed.
Bareskrim will trace other resellers distributing LC Beauty to seize the products in order to prevent the circulation of cosmetics containing hazardous substances among the public.