Kuala Lumpur, November 02 (ANI): Malaysia’s Deputy Foreign Minister A. Kohilan Pillay has said that the women in the country are increasingly being conned by drug-trafficking syndicates, as they easily get charmed and lured.

Hinting at 1,565 Malaysians jailed abroad with 60 percent of them being imprisoned for working as drug mules, the minister said that the women should be more careful in building relation with newly met men.

“Some of the girls meet the men abroad and some meet them in Malaysia,” the Star Online quoted him as saying.

He added: “There have been cases where girls just knew the men for a day and were willing to travel around with a bag, not knowing the contents.”

Kohilan, who was present at the launch of the Wanita MCA women and children’s aid and public complaints bureau in Kepong, also quoted 2007 statistics of the Malaysian citizens imprisoned abroad.

He said: “Thailand has the highest number of jailed Malaysians at 52. In Peru, 12 out of the 15 Malaysians jailed are girls.

“Six in China have been sentenced to death. Since 2007, about 30 Malaysians are in death row.”

He further added that 25 Malaysians were jailed in Taiwan, 11 in China, 12 in Spain and one in Chile.

Kohilan suggested women to remain guarded against syndicates, mostly comprising African men, who tempt them with free flight tickets and cash for shopping.

He ended: “There is no such thing as a free trip. Parents should be mindful of such trips and keep a close watch on their children.” (ANI)