Arnold Schwarzenegger detained at airport launching 'criminal tax proceedings'

17 January 2024 , 18:58

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Arnold Schwarzenegger was detained at an airport (Image: Getty Images)

Arnold Schwarzenegger was reportedly detained at Munich's airport after officials feared he failed to declare a $21,000 import.

Customs stopped the movie star and held him for three hours while they sorted through the issue. A source said he was flagged over concern that a "watch he owns" and was traveling with might be auctioned off at an upcoming charity event. Thus, the watch would need to be declared as an import per international commerce laws, which Arnold did not do.

Munich’s customs spokesman Thomas Meister told Bild, that officials "initiated criminal tax proceedings," due to the oversight. However, a source said Arnold followed procedures presented to him and wasn't asked to fill out a declaration form.

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Sources say he cooperated with authorities (AFP via Getty Images)

An insider told Page Six that he answered all authorities honestly. They added: "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."

Administrative issues only got worse when Arnold conceded and agreed to pay any fees or tax ahead of time, even though it was his own property, to expedite the issue. However, when he went to swipe his credit card, the reader didn't work. It took up to an hour of fussing with the machine until he was brought to a bank.

When he tried to withdraw from the ATM machine, he was slammed with additional issue as the amount he needed to pay was higher than what was in his account. Plus, the bank was already closed at this point. Eventually, the insider explained that officials retrieved a new card reader which finally allowed him to pay.

Officials reportedly struggled to get the credit card reader to work (Getty Images)

An insider told the publication: "The Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative will properly report it, as all of Arnold’s non-profits do. 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."

Alex West