Fifteen illegal immigrants were arrested yesterday after they were found hiding in a lorry filled with around 20 tons of cocoa powder.
The stowaways had climbed into the tanker as it left Amsterdam on its way to a Mars factory in Slough.
The tanker carrying 20 tonnes of chocolate powder in which 15 stowaways were found hiding when it arrived at the Mars factory in Slough, today
But police were alerted after the driver of the 37-ton vehicle prepared to unload his cargo.
A factory worker, who asked not to be named, said: 'Soon after the tanker arrived at the factory, the driver got on top of it to open up the hatches on the roof.
'When the driver looked down through the hatches into the tank, he apparently saw lots of men in brown coloured clothes --all saturated with the powder.
'Goodness knows how they managed to breathe because the powder is very fine and would have been in the air. The tanker was about half full of chocolate powder - the usual maximum load, so there would have been room for 15 men to ride on top of it.'
The men were found coated in 20 tonnes of cocoa powder destined for a Mars Bar factory
He joked: 'Clearly the group of stowaways were in search of the sweet life - and they took the phrase quite literally when they boarded the truck.'
The immigrants are believed to be aged between 20 and 40 and of Middle Eastern origin.
Paramedics were called to the plant but none of the men needed treatment.
A police spokesman confirmed all were unhurt but were coughing and spluttering from the powder as they were put into waiting police vans at the Slough Trading Estate.
The Hungarian driver was also arrested, but it was not clear if he had been aware of his illegal cargo.
The stowaways were due to be interviewed by immigration service officials last night.
Staff at the Mars factory --where Mars Bars, Snickers, Twix and M&Ms are produced --declined to comment on the incident.
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