Action star and former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger encountered a brief holdup at Munich Airport when customs officials discovered an undeclared luxury watch in his luggage.
The custom-made Audemars Piguet wristwatch, valued at almost $30,000, led to the initiation of criminal tax proceedings against the 76-year-old actor. Despite Schwarzenegger’s intention to auction the watch for his non-profit Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative, German officials imposed a hefty fee of over $38,000, including tax value and a penalty.
The actor, attempting to pay with a credit card, faced a malfunctioning machine and was accompanied by customs officials to a bank terminal to withdraw the required amount. The watch, however, may need to remain in Germany. Schwarzenegger expressed frustration, stating, “You can no longer see the forest for the trees.”
The incident highlights the importance of declaring goods through customs, regardless of the individual’s stature, as emphasized by a Munich main customs spokesperson. The actor’s fundraising event in Austria includes items like a training session with Schwarzenegger and various sports and film experiences up for auction.
