LONDON (AP) — UK officials say two British men have been charged with immigration offenses after the weekend rescue of 18 Albanians whose small inflatable boat was taking on water in the English Channel.

The Home Office said that Mark Stribling, 35, and Robert Stilwell, 33, are to appear at Medway Magistrate's Court later Monday.

The Albanians are being questioned by UK Border Forces in Dover.

There have been few cases of migrants trying to cross the English Channel in small boats but several recent incidents are raising safety and security concerns. John Vine, formerly chief inspector of borders and immigration, said Monday that migrants could end up drowning in the English Channel as they have in the Mediterranean. He said the British government does not have a contingency plan to deal with a possible rise in people trafficking.

"In the context of small ports, we just don't know the extent of this," he told BBC Radio. "Clearly if this is now the start of something new, then really that needs to be reassessed and resources need to be put in."

Officials said two Britons and 18 Albanians were on the boat when it got into trouble off the coast of Kent. It's not clear if the two Britons on board are the men charged. The early Sunday rescue involved a search-and-rescue helicopter and lifeboats from several English ports.