Arnold Schwarzenegger Detained at Airport Over Luxury Audemars Piguet Watch

Arnold Schwarzenegger was reportedly detained and interrogated “under tax law” by German customs officials at the Munich Airport for several hours earlier today. German outlet BILD reported the news, publishing photos of the former California governor in the customs office.

Officials apparently objected to Schwarzenegger carrying a luxury Audemars Piguet watch in his luggage, which he neglected to declare. The item was intended to be auctioned off tomorrow at a charity dinner to kick off the Austrian World Summit for climate change in Kitzbühel.

Schwarzenegger arrived in Munich from Los Angeles around 1:45 p.m. local time. While coming through customs, he was subjected to “a suspicion-free check,” during which officials discovered the timepiece.

“We have initiated criminal tax proceedings. The watch should have been registered because it is an import,” Thomas Meister, spokesperson for the main customs office in Munich, told BILD.

It seems likely that officials may have been making an example of Schwarzenegger, as some of the details read straight from one of his movies. He was reportedly detained for close to three hours while officers checked the remainder of his luggage. The German outlet reported that the star was initially easy-going with the process, but as it drew on and he became late for his connection to Kitzbühel, he grew impatient.

Officers allegedly pelted Schwarzenegger with deeply personal questions, quizzing him about his children, his net worth, and how much liquid cash he has in the bank. “Schwarzenegger is said to have asked why the officials needed to know this. But the officers allegedly insisted that he answer the questions,” according to BILD, who also noted that “the actor has called in his lawyers.”

Judging from local reports, it seems as though customs officials were leaking information about Schwarzenegger’s detainment as it was happening. “He is sitting with us,” a spokesperson for Munich’s main customs office confirmed to local outlet SZ. (It’s unclear if this spokesperson is the same one who spoke to BILD.)

The outlet also “exclusively received” the photo showing Schwarzenegger in the customs office, and reported on his plan to view the Hahnenkamm Race, a major Alpine skiing contest, after finishing his work at the climate summit.

Schwarzenegger apparently told customs officers that he didn’t declare the watch because it was being auctioned off for charity, but he was still charged a fine of 35,000 euros. €26,000 stemmed from the watch's value, which was from Schwarzenegger’s private collection and designed by Audemars Piguet specifically for the star. He was also charged €4,000 for the item’s tax value, and another €5,000 in penalties.

The Terminator actor reportedly offered to put the full amount on a credit card but wasn't allowed due to laws requiring 50 percent of customs fees to be remitted in cash. Customs officials allegedly escorted Schwarzenegger to a bank so he could withdraw the funds and continue on his journey to Austria.

“His partner Heather Milligan, who accompanied him from Los Angeles, was allegedly not allowed to come to the bank, nor was another confidant,” BILD reported.

Schwarzenegger reportedly told the outlet of the situation: “This is the problem that Germany is suffering from. You can no longer see the forest for the trees.”

It’s unclear which timepiece from Schwarzenegger’s extensive collection caused the issue. The star is well known for his love of watches, even debuting his own limited-edition line with Audemars in 1999. The luxury brand produced only 1,500 of their Royal Oak Offshore “Arnold Schwarzenegger The Legacy” pieces, which retail up to $55,000.

Schwarzenegger has yet to publicly comment on his Munich detainment, but BILD reported that the star lit up a cigar immediately after his release.