Arnold Schwarzenegger, the renowned actor and former governor of California, recently faced a surprising hurdle at Munich airport. He was detained by customs officers for failing to declare a €26,000 Audemars Piguet watch, which he planned to sell at an auction for his climate crisis charity.
Schwarzenegger, who was held for about three hours upon his arrival from Los Angeles, encountered criminal tax proceedings initiated by the Munich customs. The incident led to a charge of €35,000, including tax and a penalty. In a turn of events reflecting the strict adherence to customs regulations, Schwarzenegger was required to withdraw cash to cover half of the charge, as per German customs rules. This episode highlights the stringent customs policies in place, even for high-profile individuals like Schwarzenegger, and serves as a reminder of the importance of declaring valuable items at international borders.