S'poreans wise up to 'drug mule' trap
Not even one woman nabbed in 2010; spotlight still on issue as S'porean faces death in Malaysia
By Elizabeth Soh & Tham Yuen-C
NIGERIAN drug runners who were recruiting women here to carry drugs do not appear to have had much success last year, based on statistics from the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB).
For the first time in five years, their honeyed words and empty promises of love seem to have fallen on deaf ears, with not even one Singaporean woman arrested for helping them smuggle drugs.
The situation is an improvement from 2009, when 15 Singaporean women were arrested here and overseas for acting as drug mules. They were found to be linked to criminal networks in West Africa.
However, a recent case involving Singaporean Noor Atiqah M. Lasim, who was sentenced to death in Malaysia this month for drug trafficking, has once again turned the spotlight on the problem.
The 27-year-old single mother's family claims she was tricked by her Nigerian boyfriend and his friends into taking 342.1g of heroin and 30.3g of monoacethymorphine from China to Malaysia. She was arrested in Kuala Lumpur on Jan 5, 2009. The pair had met in a Clarke Quay nightclub in August 2008. She has appealed against the death sentence.
The Straits Times understands that syndicate members usually befriend their victims at nightclubs in Clarke Quay and Little India, then trick them into making the drug runs with promises of love and money.
'Anyone can fall prey to manipulation,' said consultant psychiatrist Tommy Tan, who has served as an expert witness in courts here. 'These men learn how to push the right buttons - they offer security, attention, and they are persistent. They spend weeks and months grooming the women for the task and earning their trust.'
The fact that past cases were widely publicised could have led to greater awareness and fewer arrests. A CNB spokesman said: 'Possibly fewer Singaporeans have succumbed to the recruitment tactics of these syndicates... (because of) preventive education.'
But while the syndicates may be less active here, they are still in the region, and Singaporeans remain attractive targets, said the CNB.
A Singaporean passport is seen as a valuable 'asset' by such syndicates as many countries do not require Singaporeans to have visas and they are less likely to be stringently checked.
The CNB said the drug runners also recruit women via online channels such as dating websites and social networking sites, and befriend Singaporeans holidaying overseas.
But even when syndicate members are arrested, it is not easy to nail them. Sources told The Straits Times that strong evidence linking the men to crimes is sometimes lacking, making it hard to convict them. Instead they may be charged with lesser crimes, such as overstaying, and barred from Singapore.
Meanwhile, the family and friends of Noor Atiqah have so far raised about $3,800 to pay for legal advice for her appeal. They started a 'Save Atiqah' campaign last Tuesday and are hoping to raise $50,000.
Mr Mohammad Faizal Abdullah, 31, who heads the campaign, said: 'Her family is still in a state of shock about the sentence, but we are determined to keep trying, with the support of friends and the public.'
[email protected]
[email protected]
Not even one woman nabbed in 2010; spotlight still on issue as S'porean faces death in Malaysia
By Elizabeth Soh & Tham Yuen-C
NIGERIAN drug runners who were recruiting women here to carry drugs do not appear to have had much success last year, based on statistics from the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB).
For the first time in five years, their honeyed words and empty promises of love seem to have fallen on deaf ears, with not even one Singaporean woman arrested for helping them smuggle drugs.
The situation is an improvement from 2009, when 15 Singaporean women were arrested here and overseas for acting as drug mules. They were found to be linked to criminal networks in West Africa.
However, a recent case involving Singaporean Noor Atiqah M. Lasim, who was sentenced to death in Malaysia this month for drug trafficking, has once again turned the spotlight on the problem.
The 27-year-old single mother's family claims she was tricked by her Nigerian boyfriend and his friends into taking 342.1g of heroin and 30.3g of monoacethymorphine from China to Malaysia. She was arrested in Kuala Lumpur on Jan 5, 2009. The pair had met in a Clarke Quay nightclub in August 2008. She has appealed against the death sentence.
The Straits Times understands that syndicate members usually befriend their victims at nightclubs in Clarke Quay and Little India, then trick them into making the drug runs with promises of love and money.
'Anyone can fall prey to manipulation,' said consultant psychiatrist Tommy Tan, who has served as an expert witness in courts here. 'These men learn how to push the right buttons - they offer security, attention, and they are persistent. They spend weeks and months grooming the women for the task and earning their trust.'
The fact that past cases were widely publicised could have led to greater awareness and fewer arrests. A CNB spokesman said: 'Possibly fewer Singaporeans have succumbed to the recruitment tactics of these syndicates... (because of) preventive education.'
But while the syndicates may be less active here, they are still in the region, and Singaporeans remain attractive targets, said the CNB.
A Singaporean passport is seen as a valuable 'asset' by such syndicates as many countries do not require Singaporeans to have visas and they are less likely to be stringently checked.
The CNB said the drug runners also recruit women via online channels such as dating websites and social networking sites, and befriend Singaporeans holidaying overseas.
But even when syndicate members are arrested, it is not easy to nail them. Sources told The Straits Times that strong evidence linking the men to crimes is sometimes lacking, making it hard to convict them. Instead they may be charged with lesser crimes, such as overstaying, and barred from Singapore.
Meanwhile, the family and friends of Noor Atiqah have so far raised about $3,800 to pay for legal advice for her appeal. They started a 'Save Atiqah' campaign last Tuesday and are hoping to raise $50,000.
Mr Mohammad Faizal Abdullah, 31, who heads the campaign, said: 'Her family is still in a state of shock about the sentence, but we are determined to keep trying, with the support of friends and the public.'
[email protected]
[email protected]
