Certain syndicates in Penang are believed to be using the 'love' to dupe young women into drug addiction and vice-activities.

Penang PKR deputy chairperson Cheah Kah Peng said he received at least 10 complaints from affected parents over the past six months.

The missing women, who are between 18 and 25 years old, were later traced by their parents and found to have indulged in drug abuse, particularly amphetamine stimulant pills, and vice activities such as prostitution, gangsterism and even drug trafficking.

According to police sources, investigations had revealed that young men from the syndicates had attracted the women to their fold through a 'touch of love'.

After developing a relationship, the women were then encouraged to flee from their homes and live independently under their lovers' so-called protection.

"These young women then become vulnerable to various exploitation. The syndicates gain financially from them," said Cheah.

The PKR leader discovered this when he personally looked into several cases.

Police duty-bound to help

One of the affected parents is Noris Chua Gaik Kim, 60, who believes that she has lost her youngest daughter to one of these syndicates.

At a press conference organised by Cheah, the distraught mother said her 22-year-old daughter had left their home to live with her boyfriend last October.

Chua has lodged at least four police reports but the police have not been able to trace her daughter.

However, Chua said that every time she filed a police report, strangers visited her house and threatened to harm her if she did not allow her daughter and her boyfriend to live in peace.

Moved to tears, she said her daughter tested positive for drugs when the police arrested her for suspected drug abuse a few months ago.

On the same note, she also expressed disappointment with the attitude of certain police officers who have belittled her search for her daughter.

The mother then initiated her own search and found her daughter but the latter has refused to come home with her.

"She is now an active drug abuser," she said, adding that she believes that the syndicate could have got her daughter involved in vice activities as well.

Meanwhile, Cheah criticised the police for not tackling this major issue. He urged the police to help save women from falling prey to such social ills.

"These syndicates are influencing women to become hooked on drugs before employing them as sex workers in both within and outside Penang. The police are duty bound to stop this," he said.