Cambodian authorities have rescued 48 Cambodian women cheated into marrying Chinese men since the start of 2015, the Foreign Ministry announced yesterday.

The latest two women will be repatriated through Siem Reap International Airport this afternoon, said Chhum Sotry, Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman.

The women are both 25 and born in Prey Veng province. Both were lured into marrying Chinese men in China’s Sichuan province.

“Again, [the ministry] appeals to the Cambodian people . . . to be more cautious with brokers who send people to work or get married in China,” Sotry said.

Chan Sokunthear, head of women and children’s rights at Adhoc, said that based on their observations, these brokers have two networks: one in Cambodia and one in China.

Sokunthear suggested that authorities should heighten punishment for brokers and not issue marital status certificates to women seeking to get married in China.

She also added that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should cooperate with China to arrest Chinese offenders, who are rarely prosecuted.

According to Sotry, Cambodian authorities rescued 59 women in all of 2014.