Seventeen Malawians who thought they could slip into Zimbabwe unnoticed got a rude awakening. Their Achisi bus crashed on the Harare-Chirundu Road, and the police found them without proper papers.

The group faced justice in Karoi Magistrates Court, where they were fined $110 each or 30 days in jail. Deportation is also on the cards, as per Zimbabwe’s Immigration Act.

The National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe sees this conviction as part of its crime-fighting efforts. For those thinking of entering Zimbabwe without papers, this case serves as a warning: the risks are real, and the consequences are stiff.