South Florida rapper Kodak Black has been arrested at the U.S.-Canada border near Niagara Falls on gun and drug possession charges, forcing the cancellation of the Boston date on his current North American tour.
U.S. border agents arrested Black, 21, whose legal name is Bill K. Kapri, and three others in his entourage on Wednesday as they tried to enter cross back into the United States from Canada, border officials and state police said.
The arrests scuttled Kodak Black’s scheduled performance at the House of Blues in Boston on Wednesday night. When Kodak failed to show up at the venue there, angry fans became unruly, causing Boston police to respond to control the crowds, according to the Boston Globe.
The Globe reported that fans at the Boston venue didn’t yet know Kodak had been arrested, only that he had failed to show up. Boston police said there were about 200 unruly fans outside the House of Blues venue and another 800 people inside. One person was arrested.
For the first few hours after it emerged Kodak was a no show, social media was rife with rumors of Kodak being missing with even members of his road crew apparently not knowing where he was, with bloggers tweeting they’d heard Kodak had been arrested.
Eventually TMZ would break the story overnight confirming that the rapper from Pompano Beach’s Golden Acres neighborhood had in fact been taken into custody.
The rapper and his entourage were driving over the Queenston-Lewiston Bridge near Niagara Falls when they were stopped and detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents, according to WKBW Ch. 7 in Buffalo, N.Y.
Agents allegedly found a Glock 9mm handgun and marijuana in the rapper’s Cadillac Escalade and three more guns and marijuana were found with friends who were following him in a Porsche, according to TMZ.
According to WKBW CH. 7, a spokesman for U.S. Customs and Border Protection issued the following statement:
“On Wednesday, two vehicles occupied by U.S. Citizens were encountered at the Lewiston-Queenston Port of Entry. During the initial inspection, the U.S. citizens admitted to being in possession of marijuana and firearms.
“During a secondary inspection, it was revealed that the weapons were possessed unlawfully in New York State and subsequently the marijuana, firearms and subjects were turned over to the New York State Police for further processing.
“U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations continuously works in collaboration with our law enforcement partners, which include federal, state and local agencies.”
All four men arrested appeared in a Lewiston, N.Y., court and were taken to the Niagara County Jail in lieu of bail, WKBW reported, adding that the four will be back in court in May.
Black, who is signed to Atlantic Records and who in recent years has become one of the biggest-name artists in hip-hop, has been arrested several times previously on weapons and drug charges.
Read the press release from the New York State Police about Kodak Black’s arrest below:
Multiple Florida men arrested for gun and drug possession at the U.S. Border
“On April 17, 2019 the Bureau of Criminal Investigation (BCI) arrested Stetson J. President, 24, of Pompano Beach FL and Madarrow D. Smith 20, of Lauderhill, FL both for Criminal Possession of a Weapon 2nd degree (C Felony). Bill K. Kapri, 21 of Miramar, FL and Jeantony Saintmelus, 22 of Lauderhill, FL both for Criminal Possession of a Weapon 2nd degree and Unlawful Possession of Marihuana. Kapri is also known as Kodak Black.
“On April 17, 2019 at 7:20 P.M., Troopers out of SP Niagara were dispatched to the Lewiston-Queenston International Bridge for suspects being detained by US Border and Customs Protection with weapons and drugs. Further investigation revealed that three suspects attempted to enter the United States in a Cadillac Escalade bearing a temporary California registration. The operator, Kapri was found to have marihuana. Further inspection of the Cadillac revealed a Glock 9mm pistol that was undeclared by the all occupants including the passengers, President and Smith.
“Another vehicle, a Porsche traveling with the Cadillac was occupied by three individuals. The operator, Saintmelus declared having two loaded handguns and a third was found in the trunk during an inspection along with marihuana. All suspects were arrested and taken to SP Niagara for processing. The suspects were arraigned in the town of Lewiston Court and remanded to Niagara County Jail on $20,000/$40,000 cash/bond and to return to Lewiston Court in May 2019.
“Niagara County District Attorney’s Office assisted in this investigation.”
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wkroustan@sunsentinel.com or 954-356-4303 or Twitter @WayneRoustan
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