Police Crack Down on LC Beauty in Cirebon; Mercury-Containing Cosmetics Factory Found

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – The Narcotics Directorate of the Indonesian Police’s Criminal Investigation Agency (Bareskrim Polri) has uncovered an illegal home-based cosmetics operation under the LC Beauty brand that contains hazardous substances mercury and hydroquinone.

In this case, a woman with initials ML (35) has been named a suspect.

Brigadier General Eko Hadi Santoso, Director of Narcotics Investigations at Bareskrim Polri, said the disclosure began from analysis and undercover purchase of LC Beauty products in January 2026. ‘Laboratory test results on the day cream, night cream, and toner products of LC Beauty tested positive for mercury and hydroquinone,’ Eko said in a statement on Wednesday (4/3/2026).

Eko explained that the disclosure began with a reseller in Pasuruan and Depok. Investigators then examined products found at the witness’s residence in Pasuruan, East Java, on 24 February 2026. From questioning, it was learned the products were obtained from a reseller in Depok, West Java.

On 26 February 2026, a husband-and-wife duo with initials RA and AP were apprehended as they were about to send several boxes of LC Beauty cosmetics via courier in the Margonda area, Depok. Based on RA’s statement, the products were obtained from ML in Cirebon, West Java.

The team then moved to Cirebon and located the illegal cosmetics production site at a house on Jalan Galunggung Permai, Kelurahan Kecapi, Kecamatan Harjamukti, Cirebon City. On Friday (27/2/2026) around 5:00 PM WIB, investigators visited ML and subsequently carried out a search at the production site. ‘After the search, raw materials, finished products, bottle and jar packaging, production and mixing equipment, packaging labels, and packing materials were found,’ he said. In addition, a mixer, plastic pressing machine, and a Daihatsu Grand Max vehicle believed to be used for distribution operations were secured.