Police found 15 people hiding inside a truck trailer at a ferry terminal in Vlaardingen, Netherlands.
The group included two children.
Officers discovered them at the DFDS Seaways terminal on Vulcaanweg on Thursday evening.
The truck had travelled from Turkey. It was at a terminal used to transport freight vehicles across the North Sea to Felixstowe, England.
Authorities believe the group intended to travel to the United Kingdom. Police have not disclosed their nationalities.
Emergency workers examined all 15 people at the port for possible health problems caused by the journey.
Police detained the entire group for identification and immigration processing.
Officers also arrested the truck’s 43-year-old Turkish driver on suspicion of people smuggling. The allegation remains under investigation.
Police later said five members of the group had also attempted to travel through the same terminal in August.
Authorities have raised concerns about smugglers using smaller ferry terminals around Rotterdam as security increases at the larger Europort docks.
Police and the Public Prosecution Service are investigating the incident.
