Chiang Rai: Three Thais among the 41 repatriated on Saturday from conflict-ridden Myanmar were found to have outstanding arrest warrants, authorities said.
Representatives from the military, including the Pha Muang Task Force, received the group of returnees from the besieged town of Laukkaing in northern Myanmar at 12.30pm, they said.
The group had been rescued from illegal businesses operating near the border with China in northern Shan State. Negotiations with Myanmar authorities for their return were completed last week.
The 41 were brought to the Tachileik-Mae Sai border crossing by Col Thura Zaw Lwin Soe, chief of the Myanmar's Tachileik Tactical Operations Command.
Thailand and Myanmar authorities met at the middle of the bridge to process documentation for the returnees, who were then taken to Fort Mengrai Maharaj for further screening.
It was later found three individuals in the group had outstanding warrants in Thailand, authorities said.
They underwent questioning and identity confirmation before being sent for further legal proceedings, the authorities added.
The other returnees are being evaluated in terms of labour skills before being returned to their families.
Nearly 300 Thais have been freed from scam centres in Laukkaing, where battles between the Myanmar army and ethnic rebels are continuing.
In addition, another 254 Thais have been moved to safe areas in China while they await repatriation transport.
Deputy national police chief Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn said the government will send a commercial plane to repatriate the remaining Thai workers from China and all expenses will be reimbursed.
He said workers are required to undergo screening as past raids in Cambodia indicated that over 70% of Thai nationals working in scam centres along the border are not victims of human trafficking as claimed.
A source told the Bangkok Post that the names of some returnees do not match with those of the repatriated Thai nationals that officers had rescued.
"During the screening process, if any returnee is found to have been involved in the scam operation or benefited from it, they will face prosecution and be charged with illegal entry to Myanmar," the source said.