Dutch police have insisted that Nicki Minaj‘s arrest had nothing to do with her race and it’s ‘annoying that she drew that card.’
The rapper, 41, was arrested at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport just hours before she was supposed to take to the stage at Manchester’s Co-op Live arena on Saturday.
The gig was eventually axed hours after it was due to start and now Minaj’s show in Amsterdam has also been cancelled after she was accused of ‘carrying drugs’ in her luggage.
Speaking about her arrest and missing her gig, Minaj suggested it was down to her being a ‘confident other race’.
In response, a Dutch military police spokesperson told broadcaster NOS: ‘It’s annoying if she experienced it that way.’
Dutch police have accused Nicki Minaj of ‘pulling the race card’ over her drugs arrest (pictured on her Pink Friday 2 World Tour at Madison Square Garden)
The rapper, 41, was arrested at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport just hours before she was supposed to take to the stage at Manchester’s Co-op Live arena on Saturday
They continued: ‘We arrested her when we found dozens of joints in her luggage. The lady was released four hours after arrest in consultation with the public prosecutor, and after paying a fine.
‘I think that It all went very smoothly. It’s annoying that she drew that card.’
During her livestream, Minaj said: ‘Not being able to get to Manchester, I don’t know when was the last time I felt that low, you know? And not only that, but just knowing that something is being done to you on purpose. You are a confident other race, you know?
‘But I’m not going to get into it and tell you guys the joy they took in it, even while I was there. But you know what?
‘There was one lady there — all the rest were men — and I could tell she had a heart. But the treatment was just disgusting. And I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.’
A police spokesperson added to BBC News: ‘We just do our job and it is protocol to search luggage and arrest a person when we find drugs.
‘The arrest was around 17.30, the release at 21.30. We stand for a professional organisation that treats everybody equal, no matter what.”
Minaj was fined 350 euros (£300, $380), they said, adding: ‘It is illegal to take drugs to another country.’
MailOnline has contacted Minaj’s representatives and the Dutch police for comment.
Minaj suggested in a series of social media posts that the arrest in Amsterdam was ‘part of a plot to sabotage her tour’ (pictured on March 30)
Minaj took to the stage in Manchester on Thursday night after her fans started queuing outside the Co-op Live area from 4am – but thousands more were left disappointed as the star’s Amsterdam show is cancelled following her drug arrest.
‘Due to the events of last week, the Nicki Minaj show on Sunday, 2nd June at Ziggo Dome, Amsterdam will no longer be taking place,’ concert promotors MOJO said.
‘Tickets will be refunded at the point of sale,’ it added on its website, but did not give further details.
Minaj on Saturday posted on social media platform X that authorities ‘said they found weed’ in her luggage shortly before takeoff.
The rap artist said the ‘pre-rolls’ belonged to her security guard and that her bags had been searched ‘without consent’.
The delay saw Minaj miss her performance in Manchester, but she said she would return for a second concert in the city on May 30, her next performance.
Minaj suggested in a series of social media posts that the arrest in Amsterdam was ‘part of a plot to sabotage her tour’.
A common misconception outside the Netherlands is that cannabis is legal in the country, home to world-famous coffee shops selling the drug that are a draw for many tourists.
The consumption of cannabis is technically illegal but police choose not to enforce the law for small quantities as part of a ‘tolerance’ policy in place since the 1970s.
Transporting any drugs to another country is illegal.
Known for her neon costumes and wigs, Minaj – whose hits include Starships, Bang Bang and Anaconda – is considered one of rap’s most influential female artists.
Before her concert in Manchester the Co-op Live arena lit itself up with pictures of Nicki as fans arrived.
Nicki Minaj films herself getting held up for possible drugs
Minaj, 41, was seen for the first time since her drug arrest in Amsterdam as she arrived to the United Kingdom on Saturday
Minaj was initially scheduled to perform to packed audiences in Manchester on May 25 and May 30, making her the first female rapper to sell out two shows at the venue.
Her rescheduled performance will take place on June 3.
Sharing the news on X, formerly Twitter, Nicki said: ‘OK guys, I was JUST RE-ADVISED that we actually CAN NOT do any other date for the make up #gagcityMANCHESTER date besides JUNE 3rd.
‘So JUNE 3rd is the new official date for all ticket holders who originally had tickets to the MAY 25th #Manchester show.
‘I apologise for all the inconvenience this has caused. I really hope you can make the #JUNE3rd show. It’ll be really special. Ticketmaster will contact you to advise officially. Love you.’
Nicki said she spent around six hours in custody at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport on Saturday before being able to fly to the UK.
The American singer had live-streamed her arrest in the Netherlands at around 4pm after police detained her on suspicion of exporting soft drugs as she prepared to fly to Britain after ‘weed’ was allegedly found in her luggage.
An hour and a half later Co-op Live tweeted that doors for her Manchester show would open at 7pm and fans entered, despite the R&B star not being released from custody until around 8.55pm.
She was later seen arriving at Manchester late on Saturday night after devastated fans were sent home.
Furious fans at the Co-Op Live arena were told by security guards that the singer was in the building when she was actually in police custody in the Netherlands.
The late decision by bosses at the newly-built arena sparked a backlash as fans questioned why the ‘cursed’ venue let them go inside and spend money despite the show not going ahead.
But representatives for the beleaguered £365million arena, which belatedly opened this month after being plagued by setbacks, said they allowed people to enter to ‘ensure the safety and welfare of fans while awaiting updates.’
Latest in a string of issues for Co-op Live
Manchester’s Co-Op Live Arena has been plagued by issues from its testing to eventual opening earlier this month.
Here is a timeline of what has happened:
April 20
Headaches for Co-op Arena emerged after capacity for a test event was reduced with just hours’ notice.
Rick Astley did perform at the arena, however, and there were reports on social media that the event was a success.
April 22
Yet more issues came when comedian Peter Kay’s performances were postponed with less than 48 hours’ notice.
His original dates were shifted to April 29 and 30, with Kay writing on social media that he was ‘truly gutted’ for his fans.
A spokesman for the arena said that ‘consistent total power supply to our fully electric sustainable venue’ was two days behind and there needed to be more time to test it ‘thoroughly’.
April 25
Following a slew of issues, general manager Gary Roden resigned.
April 26
Peter Kay and The Black Keys both had to reschedule dates because of the venue not being ‘ready’.
Kay’s gigs were moved to May 23 and May 24, and he said it was ‘very disappointing but your safety is important, and I won’t compromise that’ on X, formerly Twitter.
The new date for the US rock band The Black Keys became May 15.
In a statement, Co-op Live also said that there is ‘reassurance’ for fans that dates for US rapper A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, real name Julius Dubose, on May 1, and American singer Olivia Rodrigo’s performances on May 3 and 4 would be going ahead.
May 1
Both A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie and Olivia Rodrigo dates are postponed.
This was just over an hour before A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie was set to perform, with the venue saying that there was a problem during the soundcheck.
A component of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system used to direct air had separated from the ductwork, and the installer, contractor and third-party inspector would now have to test each nozzle to confirm they are free from the defect, the Oak View Group said.
Two hours after cancelling A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, the venue then said that Rodrigo’s gigs would not go ahead on May 3 and 4.
May 2
Take That said they would be moving their May shows from the Co-op Live to the AO Arena because of ‘ongoing technical issues’.
Earlier that day another band, Keane, announced their May 5 gig at the venue had been postponed thanks to issues that were ‘entirely beyond our control’.
The venue said it would be taking ‘a short pause to events at Co-op Live to fully ensure the safety and security of fans and artists visiting the venue’.
May 14
Live music finally got under way at the Co-op Live arena after Manchester band Elbow opened the new venue as its first headliners.
May 25
Nicki Minaj is arrested in the Netherlands hours before she is due to fly to the UK to perform at the Co-op Live Arena.
Dutch police said at around 9pm that they released their ‘suspect and she can now move on’, but Live Nation announced soon after that the show, originally set to have doors open at 6.30pm, had been postponed.
