Indonesian authorities seize millions in illegal cosmetics from Tangerang warehouses

Authorities in Indonesia have dismantled a significant operation involving the illegal distribution of imported cosmetics. The National Agency of Drug and Food Control (BPOM) conducted a raid on two warehouses in Kelapa Dua District, Tangerang Regency, Banten, uncovering a large cache of unregistered products.

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We managed to uncover something that has been hidden until now. Hidden in the sense that we know this room is not a warehouse and that the surrounding community may not have known that illegal goods were stored here.

During the operation on Friday, June 5, officials seized more than two million cosmetic items valued at an estimated Rp27.6 billion. These products, predominantly decorative cosmetics imported from China, entered Indonesia without complete import documents, suggesting they were smuggled through unofficial channels and evaded taxes.

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The cosmetics imported into Indonesian territory lack complete import documents, so it is suspected they entered through unofficial channels. Thus, unofficial, illegal channels, meaning they did not pay taxes, they did not pay anything.

BPOM Head Taruna Ikrar stated that the investigation began with online surveillance, which identified suspicious sales on e-commerce platforms. The agency successfully uncovered the hidden storage facilities, which had reportedly been operating for about two years. Two individuals have been apprehended in connection with the operation; one allegedly marketed the products online, while the other acted as the importer. They face charges under Indonesia's Law Number 17 of 2023 concerning Health, which carries severe penalties, including up to 12 years in prison or substantial fines.

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The findings are dominated by decorative products or makeup, which are imported cosmetics originating from China.