A 26-year-old Kenyan garment trader from Nairobi has fallen victim to a daring daylight robbery in Mumbai, India, after criminals posing as police officers made away with millions of shillings during her first business trip abroad.
The victim, Sumaiya Mohammad Abadi, was robbed on January 27, 2026, at around 2:30 pm, along MG Road in Mumbai’s Fort area, one of the city’s busiest commercial districts. According to a report filed at the MRA Marg Police Station, Abadi was travelling in a cab when two men riding a motorcycle intercepted the vehicle and ordered the driver to stop.
The suspects allegedly identified themselves as police officers and claimed they were conducting a routine security check. They searched Abadi’s luggage and seized ₹66.45 lakh (approximately KSh 9.3 million) in cash before instructing her to follow them to a nearby police station.
Moments later, the men sped off, leaving her stranded. Police investigations indicate that ₹58 lakh of the stolen money belonged to Kenyan friends who had entrusted Abadi with cash to pay garment wholesalers, while ₹8 lakh was her own business capital. The funds were intended for bulk textile purchases in Mumbai’s expansive garment market.
Abadi had previously visited India as a tourist in 2023, but this was her first business trip, a factor investigators believe made her vulnerable to the elaborate scam.
Realising she had been conned, Abadi immediately reported the incident at the MRA Marg police station, prompting investigations.
Indian authorities are now reviewing CCTV footage from the Fort area and tracking motorcycle movements in an effort to identify and arrest the suspects.
Police have since cautioned foreign traders and tourists against carrying large amounts of cash and urged visitors to rely on formal banking channels and digital payments. Travellers have also been advised to verify the identity of law enforcement officers during any stop or search.
The incident has raised concerns among Kenyan traders operating in India’s textile industry, highlighting growing safety risks faced by small-scale entrepreneurs seeking opportunities abroad.
