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“Comedy Of Errors”: Arnold Schwarzenegger Detained In Germany Over Undeclared Watch
Even celebrities aren’t above the law, and Arnold Schwarzenegger learned this the hard way. The Austrian-American actor is currently in the process of facing criminal tax proceedings after failing to declare an item upon arrival to Germany, according to a Munich customs press officer.
The press officer, Thomas Meister, told CNN: “He did not declare a product. A product that was imported from non-EU countries in order to remain in the EU. And this process applies to everyone.”
Meister reportedly said that the former California governor had been released and went on to continue to travel after being held for more than two hours.
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Arnold Schwarzenegger is currently in the process of facing criminal tax proceedings after failing to declare a luxurious watch upon arrival in Germany
Image credits: BILD
Image credits: Film Magic/Getty Images
A source close to Schwarzenegger told the American broadcaster: “Arnold was detained for three hours today at Munich airport for traveling with a watch he owns, that he might be auctioning at his charity auction tomorrow in Kitzbuhel (in Austria).”
Arnie runs Vienna-based charity The Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative, an eco group that is raising funds at a party during the prestigious race week.
The source also revealed that the item in question was a watch from Swiss luxury brand Audemars Piguet. According to Luxe Digital, the average price of an Audemars Piguet watch is around $50,000.
“He did not declare a product. A product that was imported from non-EU countries in order to remain in the EU,” a Munich customs press officer said
Image credits: Munich Airport
Schwarzenegger was never asked to fill out a declaration form, and he answered “every question from customs officers honestly,” the source told CNN.
They added: “He cooperated at every step even though it was an incompetent shakedown, a total comedy of errors that would make a very funny cop movie.”
The Terminator star agreed to pre-pay potential taxes on the watch, and the officers failed to use a credit card machine for an hour until they gave up and brought him to a bank and asked him to withdraw cash from an ATM to pay, according to the source, as per CNN.
The ATM they brought Arnie to had a limit that was too low, and the bank was also reportedly closed. Upon returning to the bank, a new officer reportedly brought a new credit card machine that finally worked, the source added.
Meister, the spokesperson for Munich customs, further told German tabloid BILD: “We have initiated criminal proceedings under tax law.
“The watch should have been registered because it is an import.”
Arnie might be auctioning his expensive watch at his charity auction, The Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative
Image credits: The Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative
A separate customs representative told German outlet SZ: “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.”
According to the DailyMail, the 76-year-old bodybuilding icon is known for his love of flashy watches and famously brought out his own limited edition model with Audemars Piguet in 1999.
Only 1,500 of the Royal Oak Offshore Arnold Schwarzenegger The Legacy pieces were ever produced, retailing for more than £30,000 ($38,090).
Nevertheless, it is reportedly not known which timepiece from Schwarzenegger’s collection he was allegedly held up over.
“I guess he won’t be back!” a reader wrote joking about Arnie’s iconic Terminator punchline
What do you think ?
Bernd Herbert 11 months ago
Customs was not wrong and the law applies to everyone. So...not really sure about the newsworthiness of this incident
Cathy 11 months ago
Aw I think it's funny. Especially how the credit card machine didn't work and the bank was closed 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Load More Replies...
Donna Peluda 11 months ago
Very clever, auction price just went up it's gone from Arnie's watch to THE watch Arnie's smuggled into Germany
Verena 11 months ago (edited)
He or at least his PA know the customs rule. When traveling across borders by plane, these are clearly indicated during the purchase process. Everybody traveling to another country needs to take own initiative to get informed about custom rules. In these it is clearly stated that if the value of your personal belongings exceed a certain value, you have to declare your stuff. Normal people with average electronics and basic jewellery are not affected by this. But you travel with a $10,000 laptop, or $30,000 watch or a $15,000 necklace? You have to declare the export, to be able to import it again when returning home. You sell it abroad? Then you have to pay or (sometimes you are lucky) receive the difference in taxes. No rocket science and nothing to be upset about. Schwarzenegger can hand in that recipe at customs at home and get (some of the) money back.
Alex Martin 11 months ago
Only if those items are intended to remain in that country. You are misinformed. If I bring my laptop whether is is $1000 or $10,000 it does not need to be declared for customs unless I intend for it to remain in the country I am visiting. Otherwise it is personal property and it is leaving the county with me. Your way would have every person paying customs duties on everything they own every time they cross a border. When you get home they will look at you like you are crazy if your show up with a receipt from the another country's customs and try to get your money back from them. Why would the UK or the US give you money back for customs you paid to the EU?
Load More Replies... Bernd Herbert 11 months ago
Customs was not wrong and the law applies to everyone. So...not really sure about the newsworthiness of this incident
Cathy 11 months ago
Aw I think it's funny. Especially how the credit card machine didn't work and the bank was closed 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Load More Replies... Donna Peluda 11 months ago
Very clever, auction price just went up it's gone from Arnie's watch to THE watch Arnie's smuggled into Germany
Verena 11 months ago (edited)
He or at least his PA know the customs rule. When traveling across borders by plane, these are clearly indicated during the purchase process. Everybody traveling to another country needs to take own initiative to get informed about custom rules. In these it is clearly stated that if the value of your personal belongings exceed a certain value, you have to declare your stuff. Normal people with average electronics and basic jewellery are not affected by this. But you travel with a $10,000 laptop, or $30,000 watch or a $15,000 necklace? You have to declare the export, to be able to import it again when returning home. You sell it abroad? Then you have to pay or (sometimes you are lucky) receive the difference in taxes. No rocket science and nothing to be upset about. Schwarzenegger can hand in that recipe at customs at home and get (some of the) money back.
Alex Martin 11 months ago
Only if those items are intended to remain in that country. You are misinformed. If I bring my laptop whether is is $1000 or $10,000 it does not need to be declared for customs unless I intend for it to remain in the country I am visiting. Otherwise it is personal property and it is leaving the county with me. Your way would have every person paying customs duties on everything they own every time they cross a border. When you get home they will look at you like you are crazy if your show up with a receipt from the another country's customs and try to get your money back from them. Why would the UK or the US give you money back for customs you paid to the EU?
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