The gangs are mostly run by Nigerians pretending to be businessmen who court their victims with promises of love, friendship, free holidays or cash rewards, according to Singapore's drugs police.

In return, the Singaporean women would fly to a designated country to collect the drugs and deliver them to another place, the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) said in a statement.

"CNB has been watching for the presence of these syndicates and monitored them closely when these cases surfaced," a statement from the agency said.

Investigations showed the conmen "befriended the Singaporean couriers at public places or through social networking websites".

"Many of these female Singaporean drug couriers were cajoled into carrying out the drug runs with promises of love and friendship or inducement of free holidays or cash payment."

Singapore passport holders normally enjoy easy access to most countries, including the United States, Australia and European Union members.

In the first three months of 2009, seven Singaporean women were arrested for drug smuggling, including two in Singapore, while five were detained overseas in December for similar offences, the CNB said on Monday, March 9.

It said four Singaporean women arrested in 2007 for drug smuggling had become acquainted with their African counterparts through the Internet.

Singapore has tough laws against drug trafficking. The death penalty, carried out by hanging, is mandatory for anyone caught trafficking more than 15 grams (0.525 ounces) of heroin, 30 grams of cocaine or 500 grams of cannabis.

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