<p>A Thai resort city began cracking down on <a href="https://foxnews.com/category/us/crime/sex-crimes" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">prostitution</a> ahead of the arrival of 5,000 U.S. sailors and Marines exhausted from months at sea in the Middle East.</p><p>The USS Abraham Lincoln docked near Pattaya, one of Thailand's primary nightlife areas, on Wednesday along with two other naval vessels, <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/uss-abraham-lincoln-pattaya-prostitution-thailand-b3042016.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">The Independent</a> reported.</p><p>"We are doing our best, but it is difficult," Pattaya police chief Anek Srathongyoo said Monday of his department's efforts to curb prostitution in the city.</p><p><a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-praises-ousted-navy-secretary-phelan-amid-tensions-pentagon-leadership#&_intcmp=fnc_politics_article_main-content_article-body_6_3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>TRUMP PRAISES OUSTED NAVY SECRETARY PHELAN AMID TENSIONS WITH PENTAGON LEADERSHIP</strong></a></p><p>The police effort involves increased patrols in beachfront and nightlife areas, as well as raids over the weekend in which <a href="https://foxnews.com/travel/popular-destination-cracks-down-hard-tourists-limits-threaten-summer-getaways" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">more than 50 people were arrested</a> on suspicion of prostitution.</p><p>Although prostitution is illegal in Thailand, major tourist hubs like Bangkok and Pattaya are well known for sex tourism.</p><p>The San Diego–based <a href="https://foxnews.com/politics/centcom-commander-touts-uss-abraham-lincoln-mental-health-record-after-more-than-260-days-without-port-call" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">USS Abraham Lincoln</a> left port in November and was redirected to the Middle East amid the U.S. war with Iran.</p><p>However, the prolonged deployment raised concerns amid reports of health issues, deteriorating conditions aboard the warship, and low morale.</p><p><a href="https://foxnews.com/world/us-destroyer-interdicts-two-oil-tankers-trying-leave-iran-trumps-blockade" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>US STOPS 9 OIL TANKERS ATTEMPTING TO BREAK TRUMP'S BLOCKADE ON IRANIAN PORTS</strong></a></p><p>Pattaya Mayor Poramase Ngampiches expressed hope that the influx of American service members would boost the region's economy.</p><p>Each service member could spend around $30 to $90 per day, depending on where they stay and for how long, the mayor said.</p><p>"When we heard the news that a <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/category/us/military" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">U.S. Navy warship</a> would be docking in Pattaya, it became a source of hope for us," said Lisa Hamilton, president of the Pattaya Nightlife Business Association.</p><p>Pattaya originally grew from a small fishing village into a major tourism hub largely due to U.S. military members seeking rest and relaxation during the Vietnam War.</p>
