PhnomPenh Post-Oct 27, 2026
Phnom Penh police have detained five foreign women over their suspected involvement in an illegal surrogacy scheme.
According to authorities, A Chinese woman was suspected of managing the operation and arranging care for women undergoing pregnancy. Four Vietnamese women were also detained Authorities did not specify their roles or report whether the four were pregnant. The October 24 raid took place at the Borey Sen Sok condominium in Phnom Penh’s Thmey commune. The operation was led by senior officials responsible for combating human trafficking, protecting minors and addressing gender-related issues, as well as security affairs, in coordination with the Sen Sok district administration.
Four Vietnamese women were detained for their roles in the alleged scheme, along with a Chinese woman, suspected of operating as a broker. Police said they seized a number of pieces of evidence during the operation but did not provide details about the items or the suspected surrogacy arrangements. Surrogacy is treated as a human trafficking offence under Cambodia’s legal framework. In 2024, 13 Filipino women were convicted by a Cambodian court and sentenced to four years in prison, with two years suspended, before being deported to the Philippines. Read more at:
