It’s not everyday a celebrity with the power and influence of Arnold Schwarzenegger finds themselves detained at an airport, but that was the reality for The Terminator star earlier this week.
Reports state that the body-builder-come-actor-come-politician was traveling from the US to Austria on Wednesday for a fundraising event, only for security at Munich airport to take issue after scanning his luggage.
Within Schwarzenegger’s baggage was an Audemars Piguet wristwatch, the likes of which can be valued in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Sources say the watch in question had an image of him as The Terminator on the back.
What followed was Schwarzenegger being detained at the airport for not declaring the watch. As per his non-profit organization, the Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative, the 76-year-old had intended to auction the watch off in aid of climate initiatives.
“We have initiated criminal tax proceedings,” a representative for the Munich customs office revealed. “The watch should have been registered because it is an import. If the goods remain in the EU, you have to pay tax and duty on them. That applies to everyone.”
Following the discovery of the luxury watch, Schwarzenegger is said to have been detained for hours at Munich airport. Ultimately he was allowed to leave and made it to the fundraising event in Austria.
And it was at that event that the seven-time Mr. Olympia took to the stage and delivered a crude, albeit hilarious joke as he reflected on the incident.
“You always start things with a lot of drama,” Schwarzenegger told the audience. “That’s what you saw yesterday. And do you believe that? That all of a sudden I was in handcuffs?”
“I was in handcuffs,” Schwarzenegger went on. “Not because of the watch or the customs office but because I had a hot night with my girlfriend Heather last night. It was unbelievable.”
Schwarzenegger proceeded to claim that a member of security had threatened to place him in handcuffs.
“The woman at the customs office said, ‘If you don’t behave, I’m going to put you in handcuffs’,” he explained.
“And I said, ‘That’s OK. That’s a great deal because usually I pay $500 for that.’”
Reportedly, the case against Schwarzenegger is set to now go to the responsible criminal and fines office in the city of Augsburg.
The watch in question was ultimately auctioned off for €270,000 ($294,000).
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