The Moroccan police said Saturday that they have busted a new network operating in illegal immigration.

During a police raid in the city of Sale, near the capital Rabat, eight people linked to the network were arrested, the police said in a statement.

Another 13 people suspected of illegal immigration, from various Moroccan cities, were also arrested, the statement added, noting that these people paid between 1,570 and 2,100 U.S. dollars to the network to migrate to Europe illegally.

The police seized four cars and equipment used in illegal immigration, it noted.

The authorities launched an investigation into details of the case to reveal the links of the criminal network.

Morocco has seen a significant hike in illegal immigration attempts this year.

According to the Moroccan Interior Ministry, authorities have foiled over 76,000 illegal immigration attempts between January and November.

During the same period, the country also dismantled 174 illegal immigration networks, up from some 70 in 2017.