‘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.

Arnold Schwarzenegger has been detained by customs at Munich airport.

“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.

Items typically auctioned at such dinners include works of art and signed memorabilia, according to the initiative’s website.

“The proceeds will support the Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative, which organises the annual Austrian World Summit climate conference in Vienna and backs climate projects globally,” the charity says on its website.

“Schwarzenegger has been fighting pollution and climate change for over 20 years. His approach has always centred around the idea that we need ‘less talk, more action’.”