The Moroccan authorities on Friday arrested 11 sub-Saharan Africans over their suspected involvement in organizing illegal migration operations in the eastern city of Oujda, Moroccan police said in a statement.

The security services raided five houses as part of the fight against illegal migration, and found 75 migrants from different African nationalities, including 15 women, the statement added.

Investigations have shown that five of the arrested people were active in illegal migration and were preparing to transfer migrants to Europe for sums of money, the statement added.

Six other people were involved in the smuggling of alcohol and cannabis, it added.

The 75 migrants were illegally residing in Morocco and were candidates for illegal migration, said the statement, adding that they were subjected to the regulatory measures relating to the residence of foreigners in Morocco.

Morocco has become a hub for African migrants who seek to reach Europe for a better life. Thousands of migrants try to flee poverty and unrest in Africa each year via Morocco to Europe, either by land or by sea.