He doesn't look overly worried : Arnold Schwarzenegger detained at airport

[El Presidente]

‘Criminal proceedings initiated’ as Arnold Schwarzenegger detained at airport

Hollywood action hero Arnold Schwarzenegger has been detained by customs at Munich airport.

 

 

Hollywood action hero Arnold Schwarzenegger has been detained by customs at Munich airport for failing to declare an expensive watch.

The Austrian-born actor and former governor of California, 76, was held in the customs area on Wednesday afternoon after arriving from the US, Munich Main Customs Office spokesman Thomas Meister said.

The Guardian reports that the Audemars Piguet watch is worth €26,000 ($43,000), and that Schwarzenegger was planning to sell it at an auction to raise funds for his climate crisis charity.

The watch was found when officials searched Schwarzenegger’s luggage. He had allegedly not declared the watch on his arrivals customs form.

 

“We have initiated criminal proceedings under tax law. The watch should have been registered because it is an import,” Customs spokesman Meister said.

“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.”

But Schwarzenegger defended himself in comments made to German tabloid Bild, saying of his detainment: “This is the problem that Germany is suffering from. You can no longer see the forest for the trees.”

The outlet reports that officials charged Schwarzenegger €35,000 ($58,000) over the customs breach.

Schwarzenegger is in Europe for the World Climate Summit in the Austrian ski resort of Kitzbühel.

Schwarzenegger has been held at Munich airport for allegedly failing to declare an expensive watch he was planning to auction for charity. Picture: Tolga Akmen/AFP

Mr Meister went on to say the former bodybuilder remained with customs officials while his luggage was checked.

“This takes a bit of time,” he explained.

According to Mr Meister, Schwarzenegger was expected to be able to continue his journey later in the day but “the watch will probably have to stay”.

The luxury timepiece was due to be auctioned at a fundraising dinner for Schwarzenegger’s climate initiative in Kitzbühel on Thursday, Bild reported.

The bespoke timepiece was made specially for Schwarzenegger by luxury Swiss watchmaker Audemars Piguet.

[Ken Gargett]

can't you just see him staring down the poor official and telling him, 'i'll kill you first'. 

[Fuzz]

"I'll be back... for my watch"

[benfica_77]

I try and avoid connections at German airports they are so freaking strict. They confiscated an oversized lollipop bought in Italy because it could have been used as a weapon...for heavens sakes! 

[Ken Gargett]

a mate and i were flying internally in Spain and they confiscated his vegemite. best day ever. i got an article out of it. 

[BrightonCorgi]

You're supposed to wear the watch and mail the box to the hotel ahead of time...

[ha_banos]

13 hours ago, benfica_77 said:

I try and avoid connections in german airports they are so freaking strict. They confiscated an oversized lollipop bought in italy because it could have been used as a weapon...for heavens sakes! 

I imagine something like this after

 

[cigaraholic]

Why not just wear the watch when you fly in, the Impregnator gets an F for smuggling.

[BrightonCorgi]

9 hours ago, cigaraholic said:

Why not just wear the watch when you fly in, the Impregnator gets an F for smuggling.

Diamonds and the like are a common way to smuggle/launder money. Expensive agreed on gem is just like having cash.

[SCgarman]

Too bad it wasn't a master case of PSD4's. I hear the German LCDH's are a bit sparse on Robustos. 😉

[JohnS]

He doesn't look worried because frankly the German Customs officers didn't mention anything about owing taxes. God help you if you are famous and you owe the German Government back taxes. Just ask Boris Becker.

[BrightonCorgi]

10 hours ago, JohnS said:

He doesn't look worried because frankly the German Customs officers didn't mention anything about owing taxes. God help you if you are famous and you owe the German Government back taxes. Just ask Boris Becker.

Or a DUI

[Squarehead]

16 hours ago, JohnS said:

He doesn't look worried because frankly the German Customs officers didn't mention anything about owing taxes. God help you if you are famous and you owe the German Government back taxes. Just ask Boris Becker.

Becker was jailed in England for tax evasion there, not in Germany.

[Squarehead]

I have nothing bad to say regarding the border police in Germany. I have had a Mercedes pocket knife confiscated which my dad gave to me while I was in Germany in 2002 at the Munich airport. My wife and I were inside in the departure lounge and my parents outside. When my dad found out about the knife he talked to the border police and the contacted me. After talking to one officers he took me to the check in counter and retrieved it, went outside and gave it to my dad. A few weeks later my son went to Germany to visit his grandparents and my dad gave the knife to my son and he put it his suitcase and brought back to Canada. I have had it ever since.

[SCgarman]

13 hours ago, JohnS said:

He doesn't look worried because frankly the German Customs officers didn't mention anything about owing taxes. God help you if you are famous and you owe the German Government back taxes. Just ask Boris Becker.

I'm sure he enjoyed the bit of publicity, and had no nefarious intentions. The watch was for charity. How many actually give away a $40,000 watch for charitable purposes?. Arnie is a good guy, and he smokes PSD4's. 

[Squarehead]

3 hours ago, SCgarman said:

I'm sure he enjoyed the bit of publicity, and had no nefarious intentions. The watch was for charity. How many actually give away a $40,000 watch for charitable purposes?. Arnie is a good guy, and he smokes PSD4's. 

The watch was already auctioned off. So what was the big deal with all of that?

[Chibearsv]

On 1/19/2024 at 6:22 AM, cigaraholic said:

Why not just wear the watch when you fly in, the Impregnator gets an F for smuggling.

I heard that he did wear the watch. The problem was that he brought the original packaging and paperwork in his luggage which made it appear that he intended to sell it.

[JohnS]

4 hours ago, Squarehead said:

Becker was jailed in England for tax evasion there, not in Germany.

Becker was convicted for tax evasion in Germany in 2002, after a thorough six year investigation. The only reason he didn't go to gaol for two years was because the sentence was suspended. Thus, his prior history colluded to discredit his reputation in recent times.

[Squarehead]

On 1/20/2024 at 8:39 AM, JohnS said:

Becker was convicted for tax evasion in Germany in 2002, after a thorough six year investigation. The only reason he didn't go to gaol for two years was because the sentence was suspended. Thus, his prior history colluded to discredit his reputation in recent times.

I stand corrected as I didn't know that. On the other hand I don't follow him as I can't stand him regardless of his achievements as a player.

[cigaraholic]

He went from a F to a F-.

[BoliDan]

Just odd needing to pay import tax for something you brought into the country. I've never encountered this. Would they have cared if he had it unboxed or wearing it? I'm always going to the defense of one of favorite aficionado celebrities.