Nicki Minaj Detained in Amsterdam After She Was Found to Be Allegedly “Carrying Drugs” (Reports)

Hilary Lewis
·5 min read
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Nicki Minaj was detained at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport in the Netherlands, according to the BBC, which is citing local media reports.

The Dutch police told NBC News they, “arrested a 41-year-old American woman at Schiphol Airport because of possession of soft drugs,” but the woman wasn’t named.

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Later Saturday, the police posted on social media that they had “released” the woman they arrested that afternoon at the airport “on suspicion of exporting soft drugs.”

“After consultation with the Public Prosecution Service, the suspect was fined and can continue her journey,” the statement continued.

Minaj documented her encounters with officials on Saturday on social media, including an Instagram Live captured by a number of outlets and fans, on which an official is heard saying they want to take Minaj into custody for “carrying drugs,” which she denied.

“I’m not going in there. I need a lawyer present,” Minaj said from behind the camera.

She and the official later said she’s “under arrest” as she wondered what for, but the official just asked her to stop filming.

She continued to protest before she stepped into what looks like a police vehicle.

Minaj is currently in Europe on her Pink Friday 2 world tour. She was scheduled to perform in Manchester on Saturday evening and is booked for other dates across the U.K. after she performed in Amsterdam on Friday night. Around 2 p.m. PT on Saturday it was reported and The Hollywood Reporter later confirmed, Minaj’s Manchester show had been postponed with Live Nation saying the performance will be rescheduled and tickets will be honored.

“Despite Nicki’s best efforts to explore every possible avenue to make tonight’s show happen, the events of today have made it impossible,” Live Nation said in a statement. “We are deeply disappointed by the inconvenience this has caused.”

On Monday, Minaj announced the rescheduled Manchester show would take place on Monday, June 3.

On Saturday Minaj shared another video on Instagram, which she posted to the grid on her account, in which she’s talking with another official who said he needs to search her luggage.

“Isn’t that what you planned on doing from the get-go? Why didn’t you search it before it went on the plane?” Minaj asked.

The official said authorities “did a random quick check” but now want to do a full search. When Minaj asked why, the official said, “First of all because you filmed him … He doesn’t believe that you don’t have more with you than you say.”

She replied, “No, he asked me do I have any more in those purses and I said, ‘No,’ and I asked, ‘Where are my bags?’ They took my bags and put it on the plane before I could know what bags are on the plane.”

Writing on X (formerly known as Twitter), Minaj indicated this all unfolded while her flight was delayed in Amsterdam as authorities told her they “found weed” and “another group of ppl have to come here to weigh the pre-rolls.”

“Keep in mind they took my bags without consent,” she added. “My security has already advised them those pre-rolls belong to him. Oh yea & the pilot wants me to take my ig post down.”

In an X post at 7:51 a.m. PT on Saturday, Minaj wrote, “Now they said I have to go 5 mins away to make a statement about my security to the police precinct.”

Minaj also argued on X and Instagram that people were trying to “sabotage” her tour.

In the caption with the above Instagram video, Minaj wrote, “They’ve been trying to stop me from coming to every show. They took my bags before I could see them. Put it on the plane. Now saying they’re waiting on customs. This is what it looks like when ppl are paid big money to try to sabotage a tour after all else failed. Everything they’ve done is illegal.”

Later on Saturday, at 5:17 p.m. PT, Minaj shared on X that she arrived at her Manchester hotel after “sitting in a jail cell for 5-6 hours, my plane still didn’t take off for another 20 mins once I boarded. The flight was 50 mins. 50 mins.”

“That’s why they had to do the big song & dance b/c they knew I’d still find a way to perform even if it came down to my last 90 mins in the building which would have been until 1130pm. The building was willing to go past 11pm. So grateful to them for that,” she added in her post regarding her Saturday show in Manchester getting postponed due to her arrest. “So they succeeded at their plan to not let me get on that stage tonight. I succeeded @ getting to the root of it all by recording them & posting everything in real time. I have sooooooooo much video evidence. You wouldn’t believe it if I told you. I’ll have the lawyers & GOD take it from here tho.”

Minaj also asked fans to accept her “deepest & most sincere apologies,” and that her team is working to get the show rescheduled for another date.

“I’ll find a way to not only make up the date with the performance but I’m going to create an added bonus for everyone that had a tkt for this show. Promise,” she added.

Reps for Minaj have not yet responded to THR‘s request for comment.

Less than five grams of marijuana are legal to possess in Amsterdam, according to the Netherlands government website.

May 25, 1:10 p.m. This story has been updated with a police statement that the woman arrested at the airport on Saturday has been fined and released.

May 25, 2:13 p.m. This story has been updated with Minaj’s Saturday show in Manchester postponed.

May 25, 5:50 p.m. This story has been updated with Minaj’s new post on X.

May 28, 10:38 a.m. This story has been updated with the rescheduled date for Minaj’s Manchester show.

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