Schwarzenegger Detained at Munich Airport Over Undeclared Luxury Watch

By Caroline Ameh

Hollywood icon Arnold Schwarzenegger faced a three-hour detainment by customs officers at Munich Airport on Wednesday after failing to declare a high-end watch he wore while en route to Austria, as confirmed by a customs spokesperson to CBS News.

The 76-year-old actor and former California governor, scheduled to auction the watch at a charity event in Kitzbuhel, Austria on Thursday, was reportedly never asked to fill out a declaration form.

Despite attempting to pay taxes for the watch at the airport, Schwarzenegger encountered hurdles, including a malfunctioning credit card machine. Subsequent efforts to withdraw cash from an ATM were thwarted by low limits, and the closure of a nearby bank added to the complications.

The watch, a custom creation by renowned Swiss watchmaker Audemars Piguet, was intended to support The Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative, a non-profit organization focused on funding global climate projects.

Schwarzenegger, when questioned, expressed his willingness to ensure proper reporting of the watch’s auction proceeds by his charitable foundation.

Customs spokesman Thomas Meister mentioned that although Schwarzenegger was expected to resume his journey, the watch might need to remain in custody.

A criminal procedure investigation is currently underway regarding potential tax evasion