US rapper Nicki Minaj was detained at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport on suspicion of possessing soft drugs, Dutch media reported on Saturday.
The singer, who was en route to perform in Britain later that day, shared images on social media showing her being questioned by officials.
The Dutch police confirmed to AFP that they had detained a 41-year-old American woman but did not confirm her identity as Nicki 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 military police spokesman. “The interrogation is still ongoing,” Kapel added.
Minaj took to X (formerly Twitter) to explain that authorities found cannabis in her luggage, which she claimed belonged to her security personnel.
“Keep in mind they took my bags without consent. My security has already advised them those pre-rolls belong to him,” she wrote.
She added, “Now they said I have to go five mins away to make a statement about my security to the police precinct. It’s to try to make me late so that they can write negative stories.”
A common misconception is that cannabis is legal in the Netherlands. While small quantities for personal use are tolerated under a “tolerance” policy, transporting drugs to another country is illegal.
If found guilty of attempting to export drugs, Minaj could face significant legal repercussions.
According to Dutch drug laws, penalties for drug trafficking can be severe, potentially resulting in up to 12 years of imprisonment and substantial fines.
The exact penalty would depend on the specific circumstances and the amount of drugs involved. For more detailed information, consult the [Dutch Ministry of Justice and Security] or the [Dutch Penal Code].