REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The Food and Drug Supervisory Board (BPOM) and the Jakarta Metropolitan Police seized a cache of illegal cosmetics worth Rp11 billion during a recent warehouse raid in North Jakarta. The BPOM and the police searched the warehouse on Thursday based on the results of a previous investigation on bootleg cosmetics.

BPOM also found finished cosmetics bore no notification numbers from the agency. "In addition to 736 drums containing 25 liters of basic materials for the production of creamer, we also found more than 170,000 pieces of finished cosmetics bearing the brands of Temulawak Day and Night Cream, Yu Chun Mei Serum, Kuteks Elf, and Collagen Plus Vit E Day and Night Cream," BPOM Chief Penny K. Lukito said in a press statement released on Friday.

Since early 2018, the BPOM has cracked down on illegal cosmetics producers in Jelambar, Pademangan and Jembatan Dua, Jakarta.

"In each of the crackdowns, we found raw materials in the form of basic materials to produce creamers, which were ready to be packed in drums," he explained. "Based on the findings, we conducted a further investigation which led to the crackdown on the warehouse in Kapuk Muara."

The cosmetics industry is one of the key players in boosting the national economy. The BPOM's mission includes ensuring that the cosmetics market is free from illegal products.

"The crackdown is aimed not only at combating illegal products but also at protecting the competitive edge of local cosmetics," he said.

If found guilty, the owner of the warehouse could be sentenced to up to 15 years in jail and fined Rp1.5 billion under Articles 196 and 197 of Law No. 36/2009 on health. He could also be sentenced to up to 5 years in jail and fined Rp2 billion under Article 62 of Law No. 8/1999 on consumer protection.

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