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WASHINGTON: A Norwegian tourist recently claimed he was detained in the US over a meme of US Vice President JD Vance, but border officials say it had more to do with drugs than jokes.

Mads Mikkelsen, 21, told Norwegian outlet Nordlys he was locked up after landing at Newark Airport on June 11.

He alleged that officers demanded access to his phone under threat of a $5,000 fine or five years behind bars.

The offending content, according to Mikkelsen, included a viral image of Vance with a shiny bald head and a picture of himself smoking a handmade pipe.

However, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) later took to X to clear the air, saying the issue was not political - it was personal.

The agency stated that Mikkelsen had admitted to previous drug use, which led to the denial of his entry into the country.