Romania: American rapper Wiz Khalifa sentenced to nine months in prison after a concert
American rapper Wiz Khalifa was convicted in absentia of an offense related to consuming cannabis on stage, in a country where drug laws remain particularly strict.
American rapper Wiz Khalifa was sentenced to nine months in prison by the Romanian judiciary for a drug-related offense committed during a concert in the country last year. The sentence was handed down in absentia after prosecutors had the first ruling, which only imposed a fine, overturned. Born Cameron Jibril Thomaz, the artist was detained in July 2024 following a concert held as part of a festival in Costinești, a seaside resort on the Black Sea coast, for allegedly consuming cannabis on stage, according to authorities.
Briefly held in custody, Wiz Khalifa was then released and issued a public apology, saying he did not intend to disrespect Romanian laws or culture. Initially, the Constanța court fined him 3,000 lei (about $690). Prosecutors from the Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT), who appealed, considered that punishment insufficient.
The appeals court agreed with them, replacing the fine with a nine-month prison sentence for illegal possession of high-risk narcotics intended for personal use. This decision is final under Romanian law. Currently residing in the United States, Wiz Khalifa could face an extradition request, although the procedures for enforcing the sentence remain, at this stage, uncertain. Romania enforces particularly strict drug legislation, with cannabis prohibited for both recreational and medical purposes.
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