PETALING JAYA: Young women should consult their parents or friends if they are offered attractive overseas freelance jobs, said Malaysia Crime Prevention Foundation vice-chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye.

"They must discuss with their friends or parents or even check with the authorities whether such an employer exists before committing themselves to anything.

"Some lucrative offers on the Internet are too good to be true," he said.

The Sunday Star reported yesterday that many young and naive Malaysian women, who were promised dream jobs overseas, unwittingly became drug couriers.

Thirty-two Malaysian women, aged 20 to 40, have been arrested overseas in the last 11 months for drug trafficking, including Universiti Malaysia Sabah graduate Umi Azlim Mohamd Lazim, 24, who has been sentenced to death in China for trafficking 2,983g of heroin.

Lee said that although only 32 cases had been identified, there could be more Malaysian women who were had been duped into smuggling drugs.

"This can tarnish the country's image although only 32 had been identified so far.

"Malaysia has very stringent laws in drug trafficking and, therefore, we must also respect the laws of other countries," he said.

Lee also called on the police to investigate the companies involved in the syndicate.

"The police should work with Interpol to curb the problem," he added.

Women's Aid Organisation president Meera Samanther said the only solution to the problem was to nab the members of the syndicates.

"Women must also be educated about the issue," she added.

Meera said such syndicates also targeted men.

"Women should not be seen as the only victims in this matter because men have also been targeted. So, the main issue is to bust the syndicates," she added.