Four Cambodian loggers, who were arrested in 2009 and jailed in Thailand, as well as two men arrested while illegally crossing the Thai border last Tuesday, were repatriated yesterday.

Deputy military commander of Preah Vihear province Meas Yoeun said yesterday that the six men were released and handed to Cambodian authorities at the Anses border checkpoint in Choam Ksan district.

“We allowed them to go back home to meet with their families and told them to stop illegal logging,” the commander said.

The quartet released from jail were part of a group of 16 loggers arrested in July 2009 in Thailand’s Ubon Rachathani province and charged with illegal entry and destruction of forest.

However, Meas Yoeun said he didn’t know if the remaining jailed loggers had been repatriated or remained behind bars.

On Tuesday, Oddar Meanchey provincial authorities received two men from Thai authorities who were arrested in mid-January for illegally logging wood in the Dangrek Mountains.