A performance by American rapper Nicki Minaj in the UK was cancelled last minute on Saturday night, as the artist was detained at Amsterdam's main airport on suspicion of possessing drugs. The incident was partly live-streamed on social media.
Minaj was scheduled to perform in Manchester, but she stated on social media that authorities found 'weed' in her luggage and briefly took her into custody. She claimed that the 'pre-rolls' belonged to her security guard, and her bags were searched without consent. Police confirmed detaining a 41-year-old American woman on suspicion of attempting to export drugs to another country but did not explicitly identify her as Minaj.
A military police spokesman later reported that the suspect had been released after paying a 'reasonable' fine. Despite apologizing to fans for missing the concert, Minaj announced a second Manchester show on May 30 and a performance in Birmingham on Sunday as part of her Pink Friday 2 World Tour. She promised to make up for the cancelled date with an added bonus for ticket holders. The Co-op Live arena in Manchester assured that tickets would remain valid for a future concert date yet to be announced.
