Pattaya police are stepping up prostitution patrols as around 5,000 US sailors and Marines prepare to visit the Thai resort city after a long deployment at sea. The USS Abraham Lincoln and two other US Navy vessels are due to dock at Laem Chabang Port, near Pattaya, from 2 to 6 September. The stop will give crews time to rest after spending more than 200 days without a full port visit.
The large arrival could bring much-needed money to Pattaya's restaurants, hotels, bars and transport businesses, but it has also put the city's illegal sex trade under fresh attention. Police have already carried out sweeps around the beachfront and other busy tourist areas, with more checks planned during the Navy visit. Officials say the aim is to keep public areas safe and stop illegal soliciting, especially as thousands of visitors arrive at once.
Pattaya Police Step Up Prostitution Patrols
Police, immigration officers and social workers carried out a large check around Pattaya Beach, Second Road and other public areas on 29 August. Authorities said 25 people were detained during that operation, including 18 Thai nationals, five Lao nationals and two Ugandan nationals. Officials said the group was dealt with under laws covering prostitution and public soliciting.
That operation was part of a wider weekend push before the US Navy visit. Officials later said around 40 to 50 people had been detained in prostitution-related operations over the weekend, while extra patrols were being prepared for the beachfront and nightlife areas. Tourist police have also said officers plan to use cameras and drones as part of security work during the large military visit.
Prostitution is illegal in Thailand, even though the sex industry remains easy to see in parts of Pattaya and Bangkok. Pattaya police chief Anek Srathongyoo said enforcement can be difficult because illegal soliciting can happen in public without officers seeing it straight away, adding, 'We are doing our best, but it is difficult.' Local officials also said stronger checks would continue after the Navy visit and would include efforts to protect children from exploitation.
USS Abraham Lincoln Ends Long Stretch at Sea
The USS Abraham Lincoln left San Diego in November 2025 and was later sent to the Middle East for military operations. Thai officials say the ship's upcoming stop is for rest, recovery and supplies, with no joint military exercise planned with Thailand. The carrier will be joined by two other US Navy vessels during the visit to eastern Thailand.
The crew has gone through an unusually long period without a normal port break. Reports place the ship's uninterrupted stretch at sea at well over 200 days, while the US Navy said on 14 August that the Lincoln had already been deployed for 266 days, including 200 days in a combat zone. The Navy acknowledged that sailors and Marines were tired after the extended mission but said leaders were supporting the crew.
Pattaya Cracks Down on Prostitution
Pattaya police have been carrying out repeated checks on prostitution in the city, especially in busy tourist and nightlife areas. Officers have targeted both Thai and foreign workers accused of openly offering sexual services in public places.
One earlier operation in September 2025 focused on alleged foreign prostitution after police received complaints about activity in parts of Pattaya. Officers questioned several women as part of the crackdown and said the checks aimed to stop illegal soliciting and protect the city's tourism image.
The latest patrols come as Pattaya prepares to host thousands of US sailors and Marines on shore leave nearby. Police say officers will remain visible around beaches, entertainment districts and other crowded areas as the city prepares for the sudden rise in visitors.
Pattaya Hopes Navy Visit Brings Business Boost
Pattaya Mayor Poramase Ngampiches has said each visiting service member could spend about 1,000 to 3,000 baht, or roughly £22 ($30) to £67 ($91), for each day spent ashore. Local estimates suggest the visit could bring millions of baht into restaurants, bars, transport services and other businesses if large numbers of personnel visit Pattaya. Shore leave will be staggered, meaning all 5,000 visitors are not expected to enter the city at the same time.
The visit comes during a difficult year for some businesses in Pattaya's nightlife and tourism areas. Local business owners see the US Navy arrival as a chance to bring more customers into the city, although some personnel may choose to travel to Bangkok or other places instead. The final boost will depend on how many people receive shore leave, where they go and how much they spend.
There are also concerns that some of the extra spending could reach Pattaya's illegal sex industry. Tourism expert Pipatpong Fakfare has warned that a sudden rise in customers could increase risks linked to sexual exploitation and sexually transmitted infections. This is one reason authorities are stepping up checks as the Navy visit approaches.
