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Published on November 24, 2007

Two men in jail for trafficking several kilograms of heroin will not be included, however.

The deal was initiated by the Supreme Command in July and officially struck on Wednesday.

Military Border Affairs Department commander Lt-General Niphat Thonglek recently visited the 33 and found them well.

Most were small-scale drug-dealers; others were jailed for minor offences.

He said Burmese authorities were willing to cooperate in a spirit of bilateral relations. Both countries are predominantly Buddhist.

He said the prisoners were "delighted" and some had burst into tears on learning the news.

The group will be returned home aboard a Royal Thai Air Force transport from Rangoon, landing in Bangkok around 1pm.

The Nation