Indonesia Seizes Millions of Allegedly Illegal Chinese Cosmetics in Tangerang Raid

Indonesia’s food and drug regulator has seized more than two million cosmetic products from an unlicensed warehouse in Tangerang, in one of the latest enforcement actions targeting imported beauty goods sold through online channels.

The National Agency of Drug and Food Control, known as BPOM, said it worked with local authorities in Tangerang, Banten province, to raid a warehouse allegedly used to store cosmetics without proper distribution permits or complete import documents.

Officials said the operation uncovered 956 boxes containing about 2.08 million individual items, with an estimated market value of 27.6 billion rupiah. Most of the products were decorative cosmetics believed to have entered Indonesia from China through irregular import channels.

BPOM said the goods appeared to have been brought in through non-compliant freight agents without the required import approvals and customs paperwork. The warehouse, located in a rural area, was allegedly being used not only for storage but also as a distribution base for sales through major Indonesian e-commerce platforms.

Authorities sealed the warehouse and halted its storage, shipping and sales activities. BPOM said cosmetics imported without proper registration and inspection pose potential safety risks because their ingredients, formulas, microbial content and heavy-metal levels have not been verified by regulators.

The agency warned that unregistered low-cost cosmetics could cause skin irritation, inflammation or longer-term health problems if used regularly. It said the case would be investigated further, including possible links to freight agents and online sellers involved in the distribution chain.

The raid reflects Indonesia’s broader effort to tighten oversight of imported consumer goods sold through digital marketplaces. Beauty products from overseas, especially low-priced cosmetics promoted online, have become increasingly popular with Indonesian consumers, but regulators say the growth of cross-border e-commerce has also made it easier for unregistered products to reach the market.