Photo Credit: File Photo
Nicki Minaj was detained at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport on her way to a Manchester concert, with Dutch police allegedly finding marijuana pre-rolls in her luggage. The incident occurred as Minaj was traveling for her Pink Friday 2 World Tour, the highest-grossing female rap tour of all time.
Nicki documented the ordeal via Instagram and Twitter. She claimed airport officials forced her to undergo additional security screenings and accused her of carrying drugs. In a live video, she recounted being told to "get into this [police] van and go into the precinct with no lawyer present." A representative from Amsterdam's police, Robert Kapel, confirmed an American woman was arrested for possessing soft drugs but did not specify her name.
Nicki suggested this was an attempt to sabotage her tour. She stated, "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."
Throughout the ordeal, Nicki filmed her interactions with airport staff and police. An airport employee explained that her bags needed to be searched again due to a police officer's request. Nicki questioned the timing and necessity of the additional search, suggesting it was a deliberate effort to delay her Manchester performance.
Followers rallied behind her, using the hashtag #FreeNicki on social media. Despite the arrest, fans remained hopeful she would make it to her concert. Nicki's social media updates highlighted her frustration with the authorities' actions. She tweeted, "They’re being paid big money to try to sabotage my tour b/c soooooo many ppl are mad that it’s this successful & they can’t eat off me. They got caught stealing money from my travel/jets. Got fired. Got mad. Etc.”
