KUALA LUMPUR: The promise of love and companionship, the lure of an all-expense-paid foreign holiday or the promise to ease a financial burden.

These are some of the scenarios painted by clinical psychologist Urmilah Dass on why some women easily fall prey to drug syndicates.

She was commenting on a New Sunday Times article, which revealed that almost 100 Malaysian women are languishing in foreign prisons for drug-related offences.

The majority had been duped or forced into being "mules" for drug syndicates.

Urmilah said understanding an individual's socioeconomic status would reveal why a woman was willing to take a risk and carry packages without knowing their content.
Poverty, a lack of education and exposure, lack of social support or the desire to escape are just some of the reasons.

"Some of these women simply want to leave the country for a few days and be able to boast about it later."

She added that desperation may be another driving factor, as these "offers" came with "handsome rewards".

Urmilah said some women were adrenaline junkies and enjoyed the risks involved.

"These women may have mood disorders (bipolar II) or a personality disorder. And they are not necessarily poor or uneducated."

On those lured by love, Urmilah said that women were taken in by foreigners, especially by their promises of providing them a better life.

"This could be linked to self-esteem issues. The men would shower the women with praises of how beautiful they are and women would fall for them easily and be willing to commit to them."

Urmilah said in most cases, women needed social support when they got themselves into these situations.

"Talking to family, friends or even their employers would help. All you need to ask is why you have to carry that package. Talking to someone else helps."