Charlotte McLaughlin, PA Senior Entertainment Reporter
PA Media/dpa
Nicki Minaj has been released following her arrest in Amsterdam hours before she is due to go on stage in Manchester, England.
The 41-year-old US singer, known for the songs “Starships,” “Super Bass” and “Anaconda,” is set to perform at Co-op Live Arena on Saturday evening as part of her Pink Friday World Tour.
A statement to the PA news agency from the National Police Corps said a woman, 41, was arrested after allegedly trying to take soft drugs from Schiphol Airport to another country.
An update from the Dutch force late Saturday stated that it had released their “suspect and she can now move on.”
The force added that the woman will have to pay “a fine” which will be determined by the Public Prosecution Service.
Minaj’s show in Manchester Live was originally set to have doors open at 6:30 pm (1730 GMT) but this was changed to 7 pm, and fans have since entered the venue.
In a series of social media posts on X, formerly Twitter, and Instagram, Minaj claimed that police said they found drugs in her luggage after items were checked by customs.
She wrote that “they found weed” and her security “already advised them” that items belong to them, and not her.
Minaj 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.
She 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.”
Minaj 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,” she says in the clip.
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.
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