The problem of Cambodian women wanting foreign husbands has existed in Cambodian society for a long time. Until now, there are still people who want to become victims of human trafficking.
In the past, most of the targets Europe, South Korea, Taiwan, and China. Up until now, the feeling of lust for a foreign husband, wanting to free oneself from one situation after another, still exists. Therefore, according to the records of the General Department of Immigration of the Ministry of Interior, there are still more than 100 cases of female victims, but only one of them is from China.
According to statistics published on social media, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Ministry of Interior Sar Sokha said that as of 6 months of 2025, specialized law enforcement officers have prevented a total of 104 suspected victims of human trafficking, most of whom were women who were dragged into marriage with foreign husbands. It also provided cooperation and coordination to receive 78 cases of Cambodian women who were victims of human trafficking in China, totaling 187 people. This figure is not small and is also a clear testimony that Cambodian women continue to suffer because of this case of wanting a foreign husband.
Why do Cambodian women continue to have a tendency to want foreign husbands? This may not be difficult to understand. It is because they want to free themselves from the current living conditions in the country, and in part it may be the influence of social media.
So far, some Cambodian women who have been successful and happy because of the right decision, who may have the destiny of finding a life partner abroad, have shared their experiences on social media. Other women are also interested, and when some of the crooked turtles come to pour bananas and sugar into the mouth, the mouth is also depressed.
In the past, because the legal conditions in Cambodia were relaxed, most foreigners who wanted to come to find a Cambodian wife would marry in the country itself. However, to protect citizens, the legal conditions have become stricter, and the conditions and requirements have also changed. So instead of those men coming to marry locally, they are diverted to marry outside the country.
According to the survey, the women who are trafficked are arranged by the traffickers as tourists and travel to the arranged destination. That is why Cambodian women continue to suffer from this problem. In a previously posted video clip, Lieutenant General Sok Veasna, director-general of the General Department of Immigration, said that most of the suspected victims were lured into illegal marriages with foreigners in groups.
Answering the question of what methods the immigration police officers used to conclude this matter, the Lieutenant General said that suspicious cases have emerged, such as young women, some of whom traveled abroad without a destination or went on vacation. But the truth is, they don’t know where they are going, or some don’t have enough money to travel abroad, and some just show abnormal behavior in front of the authorities.
The Lieutenant General added that after suspicions, the authorities asked for preliminary information and reported it to the experts involved in the fight against human trafficking for further investigation and research, leading to the conclusion that they were deceived by brokers, lured and enticed through psychological means, material wealth, and other forms of hope.
