Nicki Minaj was briefly arrested before being fined at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport on Saturday on allegations that ‘soft drugs’ were found in her luggage.
The Dutch national police agency shared a social media update that a 41-year-old American woman was released from custody after consultation with local prosecutors, CBS News reported.
The Dutch police didn’t name Nicki in the post but they didn’t have to as she streamed the whole incident on Instagram Live.
In the video, she explained that the police told her marijuana had been found in her bags and it would have to be weighed.
She was traveling from Amsterdam to Manchester for her next Pink Friday 2 Tour show at the time. Saturday night’s concert was canceled at the last moment as a result of her brief detainment.
In the recording, a man explained to her that she ‘would get a lawyer at the office’ and they would go ‘as fast as possible.’
During the Instagram Live, the Anaconda hitmaker said she was told ‘to get into this [police] van and go into the precinct with no lawyer present.’
She further alleged that someone working for airport security requested she made a ‘statement with no lawyer present’ after finding ‘pre-rolls’ in ‘bags that they were not authorized to take.’
It is currently unclear if she was booked at a police station.
A spokesperson for the police in the Netherlands confirmed to NBC News that they ‘arrested a 41-year-old American woman at Schiphol Airport because of possession of soft drugs.’
They did not identify Minaj, or anyone else by name, as the person arrested.
Before the alleged arrest, Minaj shared a series of posts on X (previously known as Twitter), about her bags getting pulled for a thorough search at the airport.
‘They’ve been trying everything they possibly can to TRY to stop this tour,’ she wrote in one tweet, before theorizing that they were trying to ‘plant things’ in her luggage.
The Dutch national police agency shared a social media update that a 41-year-old American woman was released from custody after consultation with local prosecutors, CBS News reported
Nicki filmed herself seemingly getting arrested for allegedly ‘carrying drugs’ while traveling from Amsterdam to Manchester for her next show
In the clip, an airline crew member told her that a ‘police officer told’ him that they had ‘to offload all the luggage and to search everything.’
‘I’m so sorry to say that,’ he continued.
She, then, asked: ‘But wasn’t that what you planned on doing from the get-go? Why didn’t you guys search it before it went on the plane?’
‘They did just a random quick check, but now they want to open it,’ he insisted.
After she asked why, he said: ‘First of all, because you filmed him… [and] … he doesn’t believe you that you don’t have more with you than you say.’
‘No, he asked me ‘Do I have any more in those purses’ and I said, ‘No,’ and I asked him where are my bags,’ the rapper said. ‘They took my bags and put them on the plane before I could know what bags are on the plane.’
The airline crew member simply said he was ‘so sorry for that.’
‘Okay, of course,’ she said before the video ended.
In Minaj’s caption, she wrote ‘they took my bags before I could see them’ then ‘put it on the plane.’
‘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,’ she wrote.
Despite vehemently denying that she was carrying any drugs, the rapper was told that she needed to go to the police station in footage captured during an Instagram Live
In the recording, a man explained to her that she ‘would get a lawyer at the office’ and they would go ‘as fast as possible’
Before the alleged arrest, Minaj shared a series of posts on X (previously known as Twitter ), about her bags getting pulled for a thorough search at the airport
‘They’ve been trying everything they possibly can to TRY to stop this tour,’ she wrote in one tweet, before theorizing that they were trying to ‘plant things’ in her luggage
Earlier, she had noted on X that ‘they said they found weed & that another group of ppl have to come here to weigh the pre-rolls.’
‘Keep in mind they took my bags without consent. My security has already advised them those pre-rolls belong to him. Oh yea & the pilot wants me to take my ig [Instagram] post down,’ she wrote.
In another X post, she pointed out that marijuana is legal in Amsterdam.
Minaj is is currently on her Pink Friday 2 World Tour and was slated to perform in Manchester, England on Saturday.
However, the problems she encountered at the airport in the Netherlands caused her to miss that evening’s concert in the UK.
After arriving in Manchester, she posted a statement to X apologizing to fans for her failure to appear onstage that evening.
‘Thank you to everyone who prayed for me today. May God cover you & all that is connected to you. May you be blessed beyond your imagination,’ she wrote.
‘Barbz, I’m @ the stock exchange hotel in #Manchester I arrived a little over an hour ago,’ she continued. ‘After sitting in a jail cell for 5-6 hours, my plane still didn’t take off for another 20 mins once I boarded.’
Minaj noted: ‘The flight was 50 mins,’ repeating for emphasis: ’50 mins.’
She argued: ‘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.
‘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.
Minaj grimly resolved: ‘I’ll have the lawyers & GOD take it from here tho.’
After arriving in Manchester, she posted a statement to X apologizing to fans for her failure to appear onstage that evening
She continued: ‘They’ve been doing this over & over & over & over & over again & I’ve tried so hard to not discuss it b/c you guys deserve to just get the good stuff. I hate involving you in anything that isn’t for entertainment purposes only.’
The Bang Bang hitmaker promised her fans that ‘we will have another date for tonight’s show shortly & I’ll probably be able to share it tmrw. One July option & one June option is currently being discussed.
‘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 reminded her audience: ‘I’ll STILL be performing at the 2nd #Manchester show on the 30th. 5 days away. I’ll STILL be performing in #Birmingham tmrw ok Barbz Love you’.
Fans reacted on Twitter, with some calling her out for allegedly breaking the law and the Barbz showing their support.
‘Weed is illegal in the UK point blank period if you have it you’re going to be arrested they don’t care who you are so if she was trying to leave Amsterdam with weed trying to come over here to the UK, then yes the police have got every right to stop #NICKIMINAJ,’ one fan commented.
‘So happy to hear Nicki is okay, sad she couldn’t hit the stage, but at least she’s made it safely to Manchester!’ wrote another. ‘We love you Nicki!!!’
