<TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR>Screen visitors from known crime zones
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->MONDAY'S heart-rending article ('Blinded by love and greed'), which described how West African syndicates turn gullible Singaporean women into drug mules, cries out for more effective measures to protect our citizens.
While it may be impossible to completely protect every Singaporean woman from these ruthless syndicates, the relevant government agencies should review entry rules for visitors from West Africa, an area that has commonly been linked to the source of such heinous crimes in Singapore.
The authorities should screen visitors more closely and admit only those with valid reasons like families who are genuine tourists, businessmen with proven track records, students with visas, employees with work permits and other travellers with justifiable and reputable backgrounds.
Call me prejudiced but if such stricter criteria help stem the recruitment of Singaporean women as drug mules, I shall be happy to be labelled so.
Singapore will not be the first country to impose extra measures. I had to obtain a letter of recommendation and proof of my legitimacy from my parent company in the United States before I was granted a travel visa for a business trip by the American Consulate.
By all means, extend the red carpet for genuine tourists to Singapore, but be more vigilant in allowing visitors in from countries linked to recruiting drug mules, as well as telephone and Internet scams.
Finally, a plea to Singaporean women and girls: Please wake up and beware of sweet-talking men who shower you initially with gifts, goodwill and romantic expressions. As Monday's sad story illustrates, losing your heart - and your money - may be the least of your troubles ultimately.
Robert Chew
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<!-- START OF : div id="storytext"--><!-- more than 4 paragraphs -->MONDAY'S heart-rending article ('Blinded by love and greed'), which described how West African syndicates turn gullible Singaporean women into drug mules, cries out for more effective measures to protect our citizens.
While it may be impossible to completely protect every Singaporean woman from these ruthless syndicates, the relevant government agencies should review entry rules for visitors from West Africa, an area that has commonly been linked to the source of such heinous crimes in Singapore.
The authorities should screen visitors more closely and admit only those with valid reasons like families who are genuine tourists, businessmen with proven track records, students with visas, employees with work permits and other travellers with justifiable and reputable backgrounds.
Call me prejudiced but if such stricter criteria help stem the recruitment of Singaporean women as drug mules, I shall be happy to be labelled so.
Singapore will not be the first country to impose extra measures. I had to obtain a letter of recommendation and proof of my legitimacy from my parent company in the United States before I was granted a travel visa for a business trip by the American Consulate.
By all means, extend the red carpet for genuine tourists to Singapore, but be more vigilant in allowing visitors in from countries linked to recruiting drug mules, as well as telephone and Internet scams.
Finally, a plea to Singaporean women and girls: Please wake up and beware of sweet-talking men who shower you initially with gifts, goodwill and romantic expressions. As Monday's sad story illustrates, losing your heart - and your money - may be the least of your troubles ultimately.
Robert Chew