Officers were alerted by a member of the public who reported seeing suspicious activity on the lorry, Hertfordshire Police said.
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The vehicle was stopped by police after a passing motorist grew suspicious and called 999 while driving on the M25 in Hertfordshire yesterday.
Police have discovered 18 suspected illegal immigrants while searching a lorry stopped by officers on the M1 motorway.
During the search that took place at Junction 9 of the main arterial motorway to the North of England they discovered the individuals that are suspected to have entered the UK illegally and without proper documentation.
All of the men were arrested on suspicion of entering the UK illegally, and the driver was arrested on suspicion of assisting illegal entry to the UK.
They have been charged on hint of criminal access to great britain as well as having the rider took place for abetting record, Bedfordshire, Cambridge and Hertfordshire Road Policing said.
The incident comes after weeks of mounting tension at Calais as thousands of would-be migrants have attempted to enter Britain via the Channel Tunnel.
The lorry’s driver abandoned the vehicle before police arrived.
Migrants desperate to reach the UK have been trying daily to get on freight lorries at Calais.
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It comes amid reports that migrants are believed to have unlocked a gate into the Eurotunnel complex after guessing the security code.
