TAMPA, Fla. – Movie star and former Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger encountered an unexpected delay at Munich Airport when he was detained for several hours over an unregistered luxury watch, as reported by various sources. The incident took place as Schwarzenegger was en route to the World Climate Summit in Kitzbühel. According to German newspaper BILD, the actor planned to auction off the high-end timepiece at a charity event during the summit.
Customs agents conducted a routine bag check on Schwarzenegger, during which they discovered the luxury watch, according to reports by BILD and TMZ. The Swiss-made timepiece, manufactured by Audemars Piguet, is said to be specially designed for Schwarzenegger’s private collection and valued at approximately 20,000 euros (around $21,700).
Thomas Meister, spokesman for the Munich Main Customs Office, stated that the watch should have been registered as an import, leading to the initiation of criminal proceedings under tax law. Schwarzenegger expressed his frustration with the situation, stating, “This is the problem that Germany is suffering from. You can no longer see the forest for the trees.” Although he informed officials about the watch’s intended auction, he still received a fine of 35,000 euros (approximately $38,000), half of which had to be paid in cash.
According to sources cited by TMZ, Schwarzenegger was detained for three hours and had to be escorted to a nearby bank to withdraw the required cash to pay the fine. When the ATM did not have sufficient funds, an airport officer arranged for a working credit card machine to be brought in.
It remains unclear whether Schwarzenegger will face any additional consequences as a result of the incident. His spokesperson, Daniel Ketchell, assured The Washington Post that they are addressing the matter with lawyers and do not anticipate any issues, as Schwarzenegger always fulfills his tax obligations.
In conclusion, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s journey to the World Climate Summit in Kitzbühel was momentarily disrupted when he was detained at Munich Airport for possessing an unregistered luxury watch. The actor and former governor now face legal proceedings under tax law, with a fine of 35,000 euros to be paid. However, Schwarzenegger’s spokesperson maintains that they expect the matter to be resolved without further complications.