Thai authorities have detained dozens of individuals suspected of engaging in prostitution during a major operation in Pattaya, a popular tourist location. This initiative comes ahead of approximately 5,000 U.S. sailors and Marines arriving on Wednesday.
Police raids led to the detention of 40 to 50 people over the weekend, according to reports from the Reuters news agency and local media. The USS Abraham Lincoln reached eastern Thailand on Wednesday after an unprecedented continuous deployment at sea. This deployment raised concerns among U.S. lawmakers about the ship’s conditions and the mental health of its personnel.
The USS Abraham Lincoln spent over 200 days without a port visit, having shifted from the South China Sea to the Middle East in January to support the U.S. conflict with Iran, which began the following month. The sailors and Marines are set to spend four days in Thailand before returning to the carrier’s home port in San Diego.
Pattaya is known for its vibrant nightlife, which often includes visible sex tourism despite prostitution being illegal in Thailand. Advocacy groups and officials admit that it’s not always effectively policed and can be challenging for authorities to identify.
“We are doing our best, but it is difficult,” Pattaya police chief Anek Srathongyoo stated on Monday, as reported by Reuters.
Police and local officials conducted a “late-night inspection” on August 29 in the beach area and other popular parts of the city, as reported by The Pattaya Mail.
This story is ongoing and will receive updates as further information becomes available.
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