German Authorities Detain and Fine Arnold Schwarzenegger Over Wristwatch

The German authorities recently had an issue with Arnold Schwarzenegger over a wristwatch he was carrying. According to reports, the incident stemmed from the actor’s failure to declare the luxury item upon arrival in Munich. After much back and forth with the Customs officials, Arnold Schwarzenegger was eventually detained in Germany. Action movie star Schwarzenegger spent three hours in detention before getting released after agreeing to pay £30,000 in taxes and fines.

Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Luxury Wristwatch Lands Him in Detention

The German authorities have launched a criminal procedure investigation against Schwarzenegger for possible tax evasion. On Wednesday, the politician found himself in hot water with the German government upon arrival in Munich from Los Angeles. According to reports, the Customs officials pulled the 77-year-old aside to inspect his luggage. In the process, they discovered a custom-made wristwatch from the luxury Swiss brand Audemars Piguet. Reports stated that Schwarzenegger planned to auction the item at his World Climate Summit in Austria the following day. 

Unfortunately, Arnold Schwarzenegger couldn’t declare the wristwatch, forcing the officials to detain him. The officials shared that Arnold Schwarzenegger was detained in Germany for three hours. However, they resolved the issue after he agreed to pay £30,000 in taxes and fines. The authorities sought two different ATMs to get the required cash and sent the Terminator star on his way.

The Reason for Schwarzenegger’s Detention Explained 

In a statement, the Spokesman for the Munich Main Customs Office, Thomas Meister, revealed the reason for their actions. He explained that the former bodybuilder should have paid tax on the watch because he intended to sell it in the European Union. Another customs spokesman noted: 

“If the goods remain in the EU, you have to declare them through customs. This applies to everyone, whether their name is Schwarzenegger or Müller, Meier, Huber.” 

Meanwhile, Schwarzenegger is scheduled to appear at the Dinner & Auction for Environmental Protection at the Stanglwirt on Thursday. The proceeds will support the Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative, which organizes the annual Austrian World Summit climate conference in Vienna.