Arnold Schwarzenegger was stopped at Munich Airport and questioned "under tax law" for an unregistered expensive watch that he intends to sell, as per a report from German media.
According to BILD, the actor-turned-politician was seen with customs authorities after arriving in the United States from Los Angeles on Wednesday afternoon, January 17. He has been waiting for many hours.
Detained in Munich
Schwarzenegger, 76, who has dual citizenship in the US and Austria, is claimed to have been on his way to Kitzbuhel in order to participate in a charity auction for climate change that would take place the next day. Reportedly, the former governor of California, a staunch environmentalist, brought a costly watch from the Swiss luxury brand Audemars Piguet to auction off.
In an interview with BILD, Thomas Meister, a spokesperson for the Munich Main Customs Office, said the department has initiated criminal proceedings under tax law. Considering that the watch is an import, it ought to have been documented.
"If the goods remain in the EU [Europe], you have to declare them through customs. This applies to everyone, whether their name is Schwarzenegger or Müller, Meier, Huber," a customs representative informed a German news site SZ. According to them, the actor is still with customs authorities while they inspect his bags.
Shortly before 5:00 PM local time, the Hollywood actor was freed and permitted to continue his trip to Austria, as reported by The Sun.
According to the Daily Mail, Schwarzenegger was also en route to see the Hahnenkamm Race, a significant competition in the Alpine ski calendar. His charitable organization, The Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative, is situated in Vienna, Austria. It is an environmental organization that is holding a party during the coveted race week in order to raise money.
Schwarzenegger and His Watch Collection
The A-lister is well-known for his passion for luxury timepieces. In 1999, he made history by releasing his very own limited-edition model in collaboration with Audemars Piguet.
The Royal Oak Offshore Arnold Schwarzenegger The Legacy collection was ever limited to a production run of just 1,500 pieces, and each one is priced at more than £30,000 (more or less $40,000).
A large number of timepieces, including those made by Rolex and other premium brands, are among the huge collections that the former bodybuilder has.
