US rapper Wiz Khalifa sentenced to jail

American rapper Wiz Khalifa has been sentenced to nine months in prison by a Romanian court over a drug possession case linked to his on-stage performance in the country last year.

The sentence was handed down in absentia after Romanian prosecutors successfully appealed an earlier ruling that had only fined the rapper.

Khalifa, whose real name is Cameron Jibril Thomaz, was arrested in July 2024 after allegedly smoking marijuana on stage during a music festival in Costinești, a popular seaside town. He was briefly detained, later released, and publicly apologised, insisting he meant no disrespect to Romania.

An initial judgment by the Constanța Tribunal had imposed a fine of 3,000 lei (about $690). However, prosecutors from Romania’s Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) challenged the verdict.

The appeal succeeded, and the court subsequently sentenced the rapper to nine months’ imprisonment for unlawful possession of dangerous drugs for personal use. Reports say the ruling is final under Romanian law.

Wiz Khalifa is currently in the United States, and it remains unclear whether Romanian authorities will pursue his extradition. There is no immediate indication that he will serve the prison term.

Romania maintains strict anti-drug laws, with cannabis illegal for both recreational and medical use. Under Romanian law, possession of drugs for personal use can attract prison terms ranging from three months to two years or a fine, depending on the classification of the substance.