Arnold Schwarzenegger was detained at Munich airport Wednesday for three hours, Pvnew can /confirm/i.
A source tells Pvnew that the movie star, 76, was held up at customs for “traveling with a watch he owns” that he “might be auctioning” at his charity in Kitzbuhel, Austria.
Munich’s customs spokesman Thomas Meister told Bild, the outlet that broke the news, that their agency had “initiated criminal tax proceedings” because the watch “should have been registered” since it was an “import.”
The piece of jewelry in question is reportedly from the Swiss brand Audemars Piguet and worth more than $21,000.
A source tells Pvnew that Schwarzenegger was “never asked to fill out a declaration form and he answered every question from customs officers honestly.”
“He cooperated at every step even though it was an incompetent shakedown, a total comedy of errors that would make a very funny cop movie,” the source adds.
In a photo obtained by Bild, Schwarzenegger did not appear too perturbed by the situation.
The “Terminator” star, who appeared dressed with a jacket featuring the American flag on it and circular glasses, was seen smiling to the camera as he held up a box with the watch presumably inside.
We’re told Schwarzenegger “agreed” to pre-pay potential taxes on the watch — even though it is his personal property — but officers allegedly had issues using a credit card machine for up to an hour.
Schwarzenegger was then brought to a bank to withdraw from the ATM, but the amount needed exceeded the funds and the bank was already closed, per a source.
“When he returned, a new officer brought a new credit card machine that worked,” the insider adds.
According to Bild, Schwarzenegger “initially took the interrogation fairly calmly, but then the time and the procedure got on his nerves.”
The “Kindergarten Cop” star has since been released and we’re told he plans to move forward with the auctioning of his watch on Thursday.
“The Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative will properly report it, as all of Arnold’s non-profits do,” an insider says.
“His charity auctions raise millions of dollars every year for after-school programs for kids all over the United States and environmental work around the world.
“We hope Germany spends as much energy turning around their economy as they do asking for tax payments for people’s property they bring into the country, and we hope next time they don’t make him pay taxes on his suits.”
Pvnew has reached out to Schwarzenegger’s rep for comment but did not immediately hear back.
