Arnold Schwarzenegger faced an extended customs delay at Munich Airport upon entering Germany with a luxury watch intended for a charity auction.
The former movie star and California governor underwent a routine check on Wednesday, leading to a 2½-hour detention, according to customs spokesperson Thomas Meister.
In compliance with EU regulations, items exceeding 430 euros ($467) must be declared, and duty may apply. The Swiss-made Audemars Piguet watch, reportedly valued at approximately 20,000 euros ($21,739) by Schwarzenegger, was allegedly undeclared.
The Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative clarified that he was detained for carrying a watch he owns, potentially for auctioning at a charity event in Kitzbuehel, Austria.
Despite characterizing the incident as an “incompetent shakedown,” the initiative stated that Schwarzenegger cooperated and agreed to prepay potential taxes on the personal watch.
Emphasizing the watch’s likely auction and the initiative’s commitment to transparent reporting, it highlighted Schwarzenegger’s charity auctions’ substantial contributions to after-school programs and environmental initiatives worldwide.
The case is now under the jurisdiction of a customs penalty body in Augsburg, tasked with evaluating the matter.
