Nicki Minaj arrested in Amsterdam after allegedly 'carrying drugs'

Nicki Minaj was arrested at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, Netherlands, according to the BBC, citing local media.

Dutch police told NBC News they “arrested a 41-year-old American woman at Schiphol Airport for possession of soft drugs,” but the woman was not named.

Later Saturday, police published on social networks that they had “released” the woman they had arrested that afternoon at the airport “because she was suspected of exporting soft drugs”.

“After consultation with the public prosecutor, the suspect was fined and can continue her journey,” the press release continued.

Minaj documented her meetings with officials Saturday on social media, including an Instagram Live captured by a number of media outlets and fans, in which an official said they wanted to arrest Minaj for “carrying drugs,” which she denied.

“I’m not going into that. I need a lawyer present,” Minaj said behind the camera.

She and the official later said she was “under arrest” because she wondered why, but the official simply asked her to stop filming.

She continued to protest before getting into what looked like a police vehicle.

Minaj is currently in Europe for her Pink Friday 2 world tour. She was due to perform in Manchester on Saturday night and is booked for further dates across the UK after performing 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 show would be rescheduled and tickets would be honored.

“Despite Nicki's best efforts to explore every possible avenue for tonight's show to take place, today's events have made that impossible,” Live Nation said in a statement. “We are deeply disappointed by the inconvenience this has caused. »

She then shared another video on Instagram, which she posted on her account grid, in which she speaks with another official who told her he had to search her luggage.

“Isn’t that what you were planning to do from the start?” Why didn't you search him before he got on the plane? » asked Minaj.

The official said authorities “did a quick and random check” but now want to conduct a full search. When Minaj asked why, the manager replied, “First of all because you filmed it… He doesn't believe there's more to you than what you're saying.” »

She said, “No, he asked me if I had any more in those purses and I said, “No,” and I asked, “Where are my bags?” They took my bags and put them on the plane before I could find out what bags were on the plane.

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

In the caption of the Instagram video above, Minaj wrote: “They tried to stop me from coming to every show. They took my bags before I could see them. Put him on the plane. Now they say they are waiting for customs. This is what it looks like when people get paid big bucks to try to sabotage a tour after all else has failed. Everything they did was illegal.

Minaj's reps have yet to respond to THRrequest for comment.

Possession of less than five grams of marijuana is legal in Amsterdam, according to the Dutch 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 was fined and released.

May 25, 2:13 p.m. This story has been updated with the postponement of Minaj's show Saturday in Manchester.