Nicki Minaj arrested on suspicion of carrying drugs in Amsterdam as singer cancels Manchester show

25 May 2024, 20:18 | Updated: 25 May 2024, 22:02

Nicki Minaj has been arrested on suspicion on carrying drugs at Amsterdam Airport throwing her show at the troubled Co-Op Live Arena tonight into turmoil.
Nicki Minaj has been arrested on suspicion on carrying drugs at Amsterdam Airport throwing her show at the troubled Co-Op Live Arena tonight into turmoil. Picture: Alamy

By Chay Quinn

Nicki Minaj has been arrested on suspicion on carrying drugs at Amsterdam Airport throwing her show at the troubled Co-Op Live Arena tonight into turmoil.

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The American singer, known for the songs Starships, Super Bass and Anaconda, was set to perform at Manchester's Co-Op Live Arena on Saturday evening as part of her Pink Friday World Tour.

The show has now been cancelled.

In an series of social media posts on X, formerly Twitter, and Instagram, she claimed that police said they found drugs in her luggage after items were checked by customs.

She has since been released and fine.

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She wrote that "they found weed" and her security has "already advised them those pre-rolls belong to him".

She also claimed that her bags had been taken by "customs", with someone who looked like he worked for Schiphol Airport saying that the fact she filmed security checks prompted her luggage to be searched again, in a video shared on Instagram.

New York, United States. 06th May, 2024. Nicki Minaj arrives on the red carpet at the 2024 Met Gala celebrating 'Sleeping Beau
The American singer, known for the songs Starships, Super Bass and Anaconda, is set to perform at Manchester's Co-Op Live Arena on Saturday evening as part of her Pink Friday World Tour. Picture: Alamy
KLM airline airplanes at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Europe
Minaj was arrested at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, in the Netherlands. Picture: Alamy

Minaj also alleged: "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."

She also live streamed what appeared to be a conversation with an officer, who asked her to get into a van so she could go to a police station.

"I'm not carrying drugs, I'm not going in there," Minaj says.

She then asks the officer if she is "under arrest" to which the the Dutch policeman replies "yes".

Minaj is told by another policeman that she will get a "lawyer" and to stop filming, and then gets inside the van.

Just before 4pm, she also posted: "It's a 45 min to an hour flight. So they're prob trying to stall for about 4 hours."

Her show at Co-op Live was originally set to have doors open at 6.30pm but this has been changed to 7pm.

Promoters Live Nation, Co-op Live and Dutch police have been contacted for comment.