Seven Cambodian loggers have been released from a Thai prison a year after they were caught crossing the border in search of rosewood.

The men returned about midday on Sunday, according to Touch Ra, deputy director of the Chaom Sangam Cambodia-Thailand border checkpoint in Oddar Meanchey province.

The group, aged between 20 and 30 years old, was arrested in mid-January 2014.

Oddar Meanchey provincial deputy chief of staff Chhit Chhorn said the men had been educated by border staff to ensure they would not continue illegal logging work, although it was unknown whether they had enough money to return to their home provinces.

He said Thai authorities usually jailed people, particularly loggers, who crossed into Thailand illegally; however, they were known to make exceptions for locals who lose their bearings.

In this vein, a few Cambodians were recently sent back after getting lost in the border area, he said. But in December, a Cambodian woman was shot in the head by a Thai soldier after straying into Thailand while looking for food.