Police in western India have detained 18 suspected Somali pirates, the second batch of pirates captured in the same area this month.

Police say they took the 18 suspects into custody late Sunday, after their disabled boat drifted ashore in Gujarat state, in the temple town of Dwarka.

Three other people on board were believed to be hostages.

Police in Gujarat arrested 14 suspected Somali pirates in the Junagadh district on June 19.

Indian authorities are on high alert against pirates attempting to prey on ships in the eastern Arabian sea.

Somali pirates have been operating in the area, more than 2,000 kilometers east of their strongholds on the Somali coast.

The pirates have ventured further and further out to sea to avoid international naval patrols in Somali waters.