American rapper Nicki Minaj has been released by police after being detained at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport.
Dutch police posted on X: “We have just released a 41-year-old American woman whom we arrested this afternoon at Schiphol on suspicion of exporting soft drugs.”
“The suspect was fined and can continue her journey.”
The artist was scheduled to fly to Manchester for a concert at the Co-op Live venue on Saturday evening.
Minaj recorded part of her interaction with the police and shared it on social media.
In the video, a police officer appears to be heard saying, “You are under arrest.”
At Co-op Live on Saturday evening, thousands of fans, many donning her signature pink, were in high spirits as they entered the venue, hoping the show would proceed as planned.
One started a chant of: “Free Nicki Minaj!”
Fans Georgina Warde and Darcy Nicholls, both 18, travelled from Newcastle and had been looking forward to the show since they bought their tickets in December.
They said they would be upset if the show didn’t happen.
Ms Nicholls said: “I’m trying to stay positive but we’ve accepted the fact that it may not happen. We’re mentally prepared for that.”
Even without any legal problems, the rapper is known for turning up late.
“I really hope she comes on,” Ms Nicholls added. “But it’s Nicki so we knew it would be delayed somehow.”
The music star posted a series of messages on X apparently in relation to the incident.
“They took my luggage without consent,” she wrote in one. In another she added: “This is Amsterdam btw [by the way], where weed is legal,” using a colloquial term for the drug cannabis.
Minaj was initially scheduled to perform at the Co-op Live arena at 20:00 BST.
Doors to the concert opened about 30 minutes late on Saturday. By 20:30, with thousands already inside, it was still uncertain if the show would proceed as planned.
However, a manager at the venue told BBC News that the concert was expected to go ahead, noting that a helicopter was on standby at Manchester Airport to transport the rapper to the venue.
Although it is technically illegal to possess, sell, or produce drugs in the Netherlands, the country has a policy of tolerating the sale or possession of small amounts of certain drugs.
The BBC has reached out to Minaj’s representatives for comment.