The Delhi Police on Friday arrested 285 persons for offences under the Excise Act, the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances and the Public Gambling Act in a crackdown ahead of New Year celebrations, ANI reported.

Additionally, 504 persons were apprehended under preventive measures. A total of 116 persons identified as having a “bad character” were also arrested, the news agency quoted Deputy Commissioner of Police (South East) Hemant Tiwari as saying.

The arrests were part of an operation named Aaghat 3.0, aimed at preventing crimes during the festive period. Coordinated searches were held in several areas within 24 hours, NDTV reported. The joint operation was carried out by the South and South East District Police.

Twenty-one country-made pistols, 20 live cartridges, 27 knives, 12,258 quarters of illicit liquor, 6 kg of ganja, Rs 2,30,990 in cash, 310 mobile phones, 231 two-wheelers and one four-wheeler were also recovered as part of the operation.

Tiwari said that the operation was a significant step in maintaining law and order, ANI reported.

In September, 70 persons were arrested and firearms, narcotics, illicit liquor and stolen property seized, during Aaghat 1.0, the Hindustan Times reported. In the second edition of the operation in October, 500 persons were apprehended.