RABAT, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- The Moroccan police said Wednesday that they have foiled a new attempt of illegal immigration that involved 89 people.

During a police raid in the city of Sale, near the capital Rabat, three people suspected of organizing the operation were arrested, the police said in a statement.

The migrants, who all came from the central city of El Youssoufia, paid between 500 and 1,500 U.S. dollars to the network to head to Europe illegally.

The police seized three cars and a boat used in illegal immigration, it noted.

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 last year.

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