On March 5, 2022, the Russian Federal Customs Service announced that WNBA Phoenix Mercury star Brittney Griner—who plays on Russian team UMMC Ekaterinburg during the WNBA off-season—had been arrested in Russia on February 17. They allegedly found vape cartridges containing hashish oil in her luggage at an airport near Moscow. After spending months in jail awaiting trial, Griner was given an incredibly harsh sentence of nine years in prison, almost the maximum sentence for her minor crime. Many believed that Griner was being used as a political pawn and the US government treated her imprisonment like a hostage situation.

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Brittney Griner -

For a long time, it seemed like no progress was being made, but after 10 months of detention in Russia, Griner was finally released on December 8, 2022. She was freed after the US negotiated a prisoner swap with Russia. An infamous Russian arms dealer named Viktor Bout was handed over in exchange for Griner on the tarmac of an airport in the United Arab Emirates. Bout, nicknamed the "merchant of death," had been imprisoned in the US for 12 years, and Russian officials had been vying for his release long before Griner's arrest. The successful swap sent Griner on her way home to her wife and family in the US after spending almost a year in confinement, unsure if she'd ever see them again.

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Antony Starr -

Actor Antony Starr, famed for his role as twisted superhero Homelander on Amazon's 'The Boys,' was arrested in the early morning of March 2, 2022, in Alicante, Spain, for allegedly assaulting a chef outside a pub. While the New Zealand-born actor was reportedly in town to shoot an upcoming Guy Ritchie movie, Chef Bathuel Araujo claimed that an intoxicated Starr punched him twice before smashing a glass in his face, and he had to be taken to a hospital to get four stitches to his face.

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Antony Starr -

After spending two nights behind bars, Starr admitted to the drunken assault and was given a 12-month suspended sentence, along with being ordered to pay restitution to Araujo in the amount of US$5,464.97 within 72 hours, according to Variety. Apparently in Spain, any sentence under two years is automatically suspended if the convicted offender does not have a criminal record, which fortunately Starr does not.

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A$AP Rocky - A$AP Rocky was involved in a street brawl in Sweden on June 30, 2019. The rapper and his team argued that the incident was a matter of self-defense.

He was ordered to spend two weeks in pre-trial detention while police investigated the incident.

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A$AP Rocky -

After being detained for three weeks awaiting investigation, the rapper was charged, on July 25, with assault. He plead not guilty to these charges.

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Joss Stone -

In early July 2019, British soul singer said she was detained for a night and deported the following morning in Iran, the final nation on her "Total World Tour." She said that the immigration officials were apologetic about the whole thing, but added, "We were the ones that should have been apologizing for not having our correct paper work."

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Paul McCartney - Before heading to Japan in 1980, the former Beatle thought it would be a good idea to pack eight ounces of marijuana in his suitcase. He was busted, spent nine days in jail, and the Japanese tour was cancelled.

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Snoop Dogg - In 2015, the rapper was arrested in Sweden just on suspicion of using illegal drugs. Because of that, he announced to his Swedish fan base on Instagram that he would no longer tour in the country.

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Justin Bieber - The Canadian singer was arrested in Miami, Florida, for drunk driving and driving without a valid license in January 2014. He spent a night in jail.

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Justin Bieber -

Speaking to Complex, Bieber said he wasn’t even drinking or speeding, and that the cop just wanted press. He also said jail is "freezing; it’s uncomfortable. There are people in there you just don’t want to be around."

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Courtney Love - In 2003, Love was arrested at Heathrow Airport in England for endangering an aircraft after she reportedly would not listen to the flight crew’s instructions.

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Chris Pine -

While on a break from filming 'Z for Zachariah' in New Zealand, the American actor was caught driving while drunk, with a blood alcohol percentage of .11. He was fined NZ$93 (US$79) and his New Zealand driver's license was suspended.

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Ozzy Osbourne - The English musician was arrested many times, mostly because of his drunk antics. In 1982, he was arrested for urinating on the Alamo Cenotaph in Texas while wearing Sharon Osbourne's dress.

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Carlos Santana - In the early '90s, the Mexico-born musician was arrested at a Houston airport for transporting five grams of marijuana.

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Axl Rose - In 2006, the Guns 'N' Roses front man was arrested in Stockholm, Sweden, after allegedly biting a security guard in a hotel.

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Hugh Grant - The British star was arrested in 1995 after being caught engaging in lewd activities with a prostitute in his car on Sunset Boulevard. He was placed on probation, but the prostitute was sentenced to jail.

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Travie McCoy - American former lead vocalist of Gym Class Heroes was arrested in 2010 after spraying graffiti on the Berlin wall and tweeting about it.

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Roman Polanski -

The Polish filmmaker was arrested in the US in 1997 for having sex with a minor.

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Keith Richards - In 1977, this Rolling Stone was arrested for possession of heroin for the purpose of trafficking in Canada.

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Boy George - The English musician was arrested in 2005 in Manhattan on suspicion of cocaine possession.

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DMX - In 1999, DMX was arrested in Trinidad for cursing onstage during his concert, which was certainly the least of his arrest-worthy offenses over the years.

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George Michael - In 1998, the late English singer was arrested for engaging in a "lewd act" in a public toilet in Los Angeles.

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Sid Vicious - In 1978, the English musician was infamously arrested and charged with the murder of his girlfriend, Nancy, in New York.

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Jerry Hall - The American model and actress was arrested at an airport in Barbados on marijuana charges in 1987, over some luggage that apparently wasn’t even hers.

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Erik Audé - In a famous real-life story that was turned into a film, the American actor was arrested and imprisoned in Pakistan for alleged drug trafficking. Audé maintains that he was tricked into carrying opium, but spent three years in a brutal prison.

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Jenni Rivera -

After failing to declare that she was carrying more than US$50,000 in her purse while flying, the American singer was arrested at an airport in Mexico City.

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Juan Gabriel -

In 2005, the late American singer was arrested in Mexico by federal officials for not paying his taxes in the US.

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Brittney Griner -

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Brittney Griner -

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Antony Starr -

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Antony Starr -

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A$AP Rocky -

After being detained for three weeks awaiting investigation, the rapper was charged, on July 25, with assault. He plead not guilty to these charges.

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Joss Stone -

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Justin Bieber - The Canadian singer was arrested in Miami, Florida, for drunk driving and driving without a valid license in January 2014. He spent a night in jail.

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Justin Bieber -

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Courtney Love - In 2003, Love was arrested at Heathrow Airport in England for endangering an aircraft after she reportedly would not listen to the flight crew’s instructions.

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Chris Pine -

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Carlos Santana - In the early '90s, the Mexico-born musician was arrested at a Houston airport for transporting five grams of marijuana.

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Axl Rose - In 2006, the Guns 'N' Roses front man was arrested in Stockholm, Sweden, after allegedly biting a security guard in a hotel.

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Travie McCoy - American former lead vocalist of Gym Class Heroes was arrested in 2010 after spraying graffiti on the Berlin wall and tweeting about it.

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Roman Polanski -

The Polish filmmaker was arrested in the US in 1997 for having sex with a minor.

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Keith Richards - In 1977, this Rolling Stone was arrested for possession of heroin for the purpose of trafficking in Canada.

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Boy George - The English musician was arrested in 2005 in Manhattan on suspicion of cocaine possession.

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DMX - In 1999, DMX was arrested in Trinidad for cursing onstage during his concert, which was certainly the least of his arrest-worthy offenses over the years.

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George Michael - In 1998, the late English singer was arrested for engaging in a "lewd act" in a public toilet in Los Angeles.

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Sid Vicious - In 1978, the English musician was infamously arrested and charged with the murder of his girlfriend, Nancy, in New York.

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Jerry Hall - The American model and actress was arrested at an airport in Barbados on marijuana charges in 1987, over some luggage that apparently wasn’t even hers.

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Jenni Rivera -

After failing to declare that she was carrying more than US$50,000 in her purse while flying, the American singer was arrested at an airport in Mexico City.

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Juan Gabriel -

In 2005, the late American singer was arrested in Mexico by federal officials for not paying his taxes in the US.

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Stars who got arrested abroad

Gigi Hadid arrested in Cayman Islands for marijuana possession

17/10/24 | StarsInsider

CELEBRITY Crime

In our own countries, it seems celebrities are impervious to the law — or they have enough money to skirt past it. In foreign countries, however, things get a little tricky.

Supermodel Gigi Hadid flew to the Cayman Islands in her private jet for a girls' trip on July 10, 2023. When they arrived, Customs & Border Control agents searched her bags and found marijuana and drug paraphernalia. They made a similar discovery in the bag of her friend, Leah Nicole McCarthy. The quantities found "were relatively small and were seemingly for personal consumption," reported a local news outlet. The women were both arrested and then released on bail. They had to appear before a judge two days later where they both pled guilty and were given US$1,000 fines.

"Gigi was traveling with marijuana purchased legally in N.Y.C. with a Medical license. It has also been legal for medical use in Grand Cayman since 2017," a rep for Hadid said in a statement. "Her record remains clear and she enjoyed the rest of her time on the island." Hadid seemed to brush off the incident, posting bikini pics on Instagram and showing off a huge fake tattoo of a dragon on her leg.

Being arrested abroad has many complications, and some treaties between countries can apparently be disregarded without penalty. Check out the gallery to learn more about Griner's case, as well as other stars that have been arrested while abroad.