Chalifah Fatihah
The Indonesian Food and Drug Authority (Badan Pengawas Obat dan Makanan, or BPOM) has intensified its oversight of public health and safety following a significant enforcement operation conducted between May and June 2026. During this period, regulatory authorities successfully identified and seized 31 illegal traditional medicine products (Obat Bahan Alam/OBA) and health supplements (Suplemen Kesehatan/SK) circulating in both physical and digital markets across the country. The findings highlight a persistent and dangerous industry practice: manufacturers illicitly lacing herbal or natural remedies with potent pharmaceutical ingredients to produce rapid, deceptive health benefits.
According to official regulatory evaluations, the vast majority of these intercepted products—specifically 30 out of the 31 items—failed to comply with basic safety, quality, and legal distribution standards. The discovery underscores ongoing vulnerabilities in consumer protection, as buyers are frequently lured by marketing claims promising instant relief from chronic ailments, enhanced physical endurance, or rapid weight loss, completely unaware of the hazardous chemical cocktails hidden inside the packaging.
Breakdown of Violations and Illicit Chemical Substances
A detailed analysis of the 31 targeted items revealed a disturbing variety of regulatory infractions. Of the total contraband identified, 28 products were classified as traditional medicines and three as health supplements. Within this group, 28 traditional medicines and two health supplements were found to contain active pharmaceutical ingredients—collectively known in Indonesia as Bahan Kimia Obat (BKO). Meanwhile, the remaining health supplement failed to meet critical microbiological purity requirements, presenting dangerous levels of biological contamination.
Compounding the health risks, BPOM investigators discovered that 15 of these unauthorized products displayed completely fictitious distribution license numbers (Nomor Izin Edar/NIE). Even more concerning, 16 products bypassed the regulatory framework entirely, carrying no registration numbers at all. Products operating without valid distribution approval or utilizing fraudulent license numbers evade essential pre-market evaluations by BPOM. Consequently, they offer zero guarantees regarding their safety, therapeutic efficacy, or manufacturing quality.
The inclusion of chemical drugs in products marketed as "100% natural" poses a severe toxicological threat. The list of clandestine substances identified by laboratory testing includes powerful medications such as sildenafil (commonly used for erectile dysfunction), pain relievers and anti-inflammatories like paracetamol, meloksikam, piroksikam, phenylbutazone, sodium diclofenac, and allopurinol, as well as corticosteroids like dexamethasone and prednisone. Other detected compounds include antimicrobials (miconazole and ketoconazole), antihistamines (chlorpheniramine maleate), stimulants (caffeine), appetite suppressants (sibutramine), and weight-gain agents (cyproheptadine).
Comprehensive List of Confiscated Products
To protect public health and ensure informed consumer choices, BPOM has published the complete inventory of the 31 illicit products seized during the May–June 2026 surveillance operation:
- Tangkur Cobra – containing sildenafil
- Tangkur Black Cobra – containing sildenafil
- Kopi Joss – containing sildenafil
- Kapsul Stamina dan Tahan Lama cap Beruang Putih – containing paracetamol and sildenafil
- Urat Naga Extra Strong – containing sildenafil
- Africa Black Ant – containing sildenafil
- Bima Strong – containing sildenafil
- Obat Kuat dan Tahan Lama Jaguar Platinum – containing sildenafil
- Huatuobaifuling – containing miconazole and ketoconazole
- Daun Madu Hitam – containing paracetamol
- Kapsul Samulin – containing allopurinol
- Montalin – containing dexamethasone
- Jamu Industri Cap Tiga Anak – containing caffeine
- Tawon – containing meloxicam
- Kapsul Panjang Umur Antanan – containing paracetamol, phenylbutazone, dexamethasone, and prednisone
- Kapsul TCU Ramuan Tradisional – containing paracetamol, dexamethasone, prednisone, and phenylbutazone
- Bugarin – containing meloxicam, paracetamol, and dexamethasone
- Surya Sehat – containing piroxicam
- Daun Tapak Liman – containing paracetamol and dexamethasone
- Urat Banteng – containing sildenafil citrate
- Ginseng Plus Asam Urat + Nyeri Tulang (Pegal Linu) – containing paracetamol
- Chong Chao Zhi Ke Wang Capsule – containing chlorpheniramine maleate
- Nofat – containing sibutramine HCl
- Tawon Wantong – containing caffeine, meloxicam, and dexamethasone
- Samuraten – containing meloxicam and dexamethasone
- Shen Ling Asam Urat – containing paracetamol
- Daun Afrika Asam Urat – containing paracetamol
- Asam Urat-Nyeri Sendi-Sakit Gigi – containing paracetamol and sodium diclofenac
- Day’s Slim Pelangsing – containing caffeine
- Vitamin Gemuk By E Skin – containing cyproheptadine HCl
- Moringa Rosabella – microbiological failure (exceeding total plate counts, mold-yeast limits, and harboring Escherichia coli contamination)
Marketing Deception and Consumer Health Hazards
The targeted products were aggressively advertised across various channels, utilizing broad health claims to attract vulnerable demographics. The advertised benefits ranged from boosting male stamina and serving as aphrodisiacs to alleviating rheumatism, gout, joint pain, itching, and chronic coughs. Additional categories targeted individuals seeking rapid weight loss or struggling with underweight conditions.
Health authorities emphasize that consuming traditional medicines or supplements laced with hidden chemical drugs carries profound medical risks. Because the packaging intentionally omits these active pharmaceutical ingredients, consumers unwittingly ingest potent substances without knowing the exact dosage or potential adverse interactions with other prescribed medications.
For instance, sildenafil is a prescription-only medication restricted to specific medical indications and requires strict clinical supervision. Unsupervised consumption can trigger acute cardiovascular complications, particularly in individuals with underlying heart conditions or those concurrently taking nitrates. Similarly, the covert presence of corticosteroids (such as dexamethasone and prednisone) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs like meloxicam, piroksikam, and sodium diclofenac) exposes unsuspecting patients to severe gastrointestinal, renal, and endocrine complications when taken without medical guidance or monitoring.
Regulatory Action, Legal Framework, and Official Stance
Head of BPOM, Taruna Ikrar, issued a stern warning to the public, urging citizens not to be easily misled by marketing buzzwords. "Traditional medicine and health supplement products are strictly prohibited from containing chemical drugs, and they must fully comply with established safety and quality standards," Taruna stated. "The unauthorized addition of pharmaceutical chemicals and the distribution of microbiologically non-compliant products represent serious legal violations. The public must remain vigilant and never be fooled by claims of natural ingredients, instantaneous therapeutic results, or over-the-top promotional campaigns."
In response to these findings, BPOM has initiated comprehensive supply-chain investigations to trace the manufacturing origins and distribution networks of the illicit goods. The agency has ordered nationwide recalls and public destructions of all identified batches. Furthermore, collaborative enforcement measures have been deployed to purge digital marketplaces, resulting in the immediate blocking and takedown of online storefronts and social media links promoting these hazardous items.
From a judicial perspective, producers and distributors found culpable of manufacturing or trading these illegal commodities face severe legal consequences. Under Article 435 in conjunction with Article 138 paragraphs (2) and (3) of Law Number 17 of 2023 Concerning Health, offenders can be sentenced to a maximum prison term of 12 years, subjected to substantial financial penalties reaching up to Rp5 billion, or both.
Reiterating the agency’s uncompromising stance on public safety, Taruna concluded, "BPOM maintains zero tolerance for business operators who deliberately manufacture or distribute illegal traditional medicines and health supplements containing chemical drugs, or those failing to meet mandatory safety and quality benchmarks." The enforcement operation serves as a critical reminder for consumers to independently verify product legality through official regulatory portals rather than relying solely on promotional claims printed on commercial packaging.
