US rapper Nicki Minaj was detained at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport on suspicion of carrying soft drugs, according to Dutch media reports on Saturday.
Minaj, who was set to perform in Britain later that day, shared images on social media showing her being questioned by airport officials.
While police confirmed the detention of a 41-year-old American woman, they did not directly identify her as Minaj. “We never confirm the identity of a person in custody but I can confirm we have arrested a 41-year-old woman suspected of trying to export soft drugs to another country,” said Robert Kapel, a spokesperson for the military police.
Kapel also noted that the interrogation was ongoing.
On X, Minaj posted that authorities claimed to have found cannabis in her luggage, which she said belonged to her security team. “Keep in mind they took my bags without consent. My security has already advised them those pre-rolls belong to him,” she wrote.
Minaj also mentioned that she was asked to go to a police precinct to make a statement about her security, suggesting that this was a tactic to delay her and generate negative press.
A common misconception is that cannabis is fully legal in the Netherlands, known for its coffee shops that sell the drug. However, while small quantities are tolerated under a policy in place since the 1970s, transporting cannabis to another country is illegal.
