Arnold Schwarzenegger held at Munich airport over luxury watch

[Chrononymous]

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/01/17/europe/arnold-schwarzenegger-munich-airport-watch-intl/index.html

It's an interesting story for watch lovers. I wonder how much tax he will have to pay? A few grand?

It makes me wonder about walking through airports wearing a rep. What sort of trouble could you face? I suppose there is a good thread about that somewhere.

 

[Zeta7]

It just goes to show that cops the world over are there to squeeze money from the people not to help them.
I got caught with a little weed years ango and the cops seized my vehicle. They were really nice about it and let me pay some kind of fee instead of going through forfeiture proceedings. They took me to the atm so I could get the cash and then to the impound yard to get my truck. When I got in my truck my weed was sitting on the seat next to me. It’s all about the money boys.

 

[Reaps]

It's because he's a recognizable celebrity.

The regular joe schmoe unless you're wearing a SARU or some kind of all diamond flashy gold watch customs won't even blink an eye at you.

I've travelled with 4-6 watches consistently to and from America, all reps, if the collection was real would be 6 figures. Not even once did I get stopped.

 

[Cigarlvr313]

Poor poor Anhald ............. pos .......... maybe he can fix some more potholes when he gets back to cali

 

[TESLA760]

When overseas and you buy a gen this is how it goes. Ship the box and wear the watch.

 

[kadeee]

Jm2c: “He did not declare a product. A product that was imported from non-EU countries in order to remain in the EU. And this process applies to everyone,” the press officer Thomas Meister said.
And also: “Arnold was detained for three hours today at Munich airport for traveling with a watch he owns, that he might be auctioning at his charity auction tomorrow in Kitzbuhel (in Austria),” a source close to the actor told CNN.

So it is not against Arnold Schwarzenegger, it is simply a tax issue. Similar to Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, who „forgot“ to declare two expensive Rolex watches he was gifted by the Emir of Quatar when returning from there.

 

[joeyc]

I know for a fact, he prefers the v3 apsf 15500, over the v3 zf 15500 ap, he said the brushing and tapsistry on the dial was better- Atleast that’s what he told me and legend before inviting us to the charity auction

 

[joeyc]

It's because he's a recognizable celebrity.

The regular joe schmoe unless you're wearing a SARU or some kind of all diamond flashy gold watch customs won't even blink an eye at you.

I've travelled with 4-6 watches consistently to and from America, all reps, if the collection was real would be 6 figures. Not even once did I get stopped.

Must have not been clean factory- customs now knows the subdial sheen on all Rolex 116520 Daytonas, they also Can spot too thick bezel font. Lol

 

[KGZ]

It's not just watches. If you come into the EU with more than 300€ of merchandise that is intended to remain in the EU, you have to declare it and pay the corresponding VAT and import duties.

Watches have become specifically targeted by customs as they have become an instrument of choice to move money cross-border. The grey market value of some gen models makes it so that a person can move six figures sums by travelling with as little as 2-3 watches. Some of these watches can even be extremely inconspicuous as their value is not glaringly apparent (AP 15202 or PP5711 for example). Another reason why watches are favored for such operations is that a watch is considered as a personal item (whereas precious stones are not).

So yeah if you get controlled by customs with a handful of high-end luxury watches, you're in for a thorough inspection, EU resident or not

 

[atadams77]

i saw this article. what watch did he have on him? from the photo obviously some sort of AP.

 

[KGZ]

When overseas and you buy a gen this is how it goes. Ship the box and wear the watch.

100% spot on. A watch on the wrist is presumed to be a personal item. A watch on a box is presumed to be a merchandise.

 

[TESLA760]

100% spot on. A watch on the wrist is presumed to be a personal item. A watch on a box is presumed to be a merchandise.

Done it coming from the Caribbean and Mexico. Easy peasy

 

[mclarendude]

The whole watch thing is funny.

But it is funnier how he first couldn't pay for the tax because the credit card machine did not work.

They took him to a bank, but the ATM withdrawal limit was too low. So he walks into the bank to find it is closed.

They drive him back to customs to find the Customs agent with a new credit card reader....

idk but I find it hilarious.

 

[joeyc]

Done it coming from the Caribbean and Mexico. Easy peasy

That’s it I’m reporting you, this is top kgb info lol

 

[joeyc]

The whole watch thing is funny.

But it is funnier how he first couldn't pay for the tax because the credit card machine did not work.

They took him to a bank, but the ATM withdrawal limit was too low. So he walks into the bank to find it is closed.

They drive him back to customs to find the Customs agent with a new credit card reader....

idk but I find it hilarious.

Sounds like the plot of his new movie, worst action hero part 2. Or the spendables

 

[KGZ]

The whole watch thing is funny.

But it is funnier how he first couldn't pay for the tax because the credit card machine did not work.

They took him to a bank, but the ATM withdrawal limit was too low. So he walks into the bank to find it is closed.

They drive him back to customs to find the Customs agent with a new credit card reader....

idk but I find it hilarious.

You would be surprised to know how many times this actually happens... Client of mine was controlled by customs and found to be driving a vehicle registered in his name in a non EU country. This is a customs violation in the EU if you are a EU resident. Client used a EU resident but was not a EU resident anymore and had evidence to prove that has was not a EU resident. Problem is he failed to do the paperwork and was still registered as a EU resident.

Customs officers offered him the option to pay a 950 Euro transactional fine instead of following the legal procedure of them seizing the vehicle and him challenging it in court with the vehicle remaining seized for the duration of the proceedings. Of course, he chose to pay the fine. However, the only possible payment method was cash so they drove him to three ATMs (first 2 did not accept the withdrawal for some reason) before he was able to get the cash.

Incident lasted 4 hours in total during which his wife and kids (including a 6 months old baby) remained stranded in a highway toll booth area.
The worst is that, aside from not (allegedly) notifying the change of residence, he did nothing wrong and was not actually in violation of any customs regulation. Customs officiers told him that they had already notified their hierarchy when they ran the check for his residency status and that although he had paperwork proving that he was not a EU resident, there was nothing that could be done at their level. They were bound to either follow the procedure and seize the vehicle or settle the matter through a transactional fine. But yeah whatever they say to justify the shakedown. Things would have gone a lot differently if he was not driving such a nice car.

 

[Itto]

The whole watch thing is funny.

But it is funnier how he first couldn't pay for the tax because the credit card machine did not work.

They took him to a bank, but the ATM withdrawal limit was too low. So he walks into the bank to find it is closed.

They drive him back to customs to find the Customs agent with a new credit card reader....

idk but I find it hilarious.

Thats Germany in a nutshell.

 

[joeyc]

Thats Germany in a nutshell.

Lol Atleast Germány is clean I’ll give them that

 

[joeyc]

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=710514262801540

 

[Soltangris]

It's not just watches. If you come into the EU with more than 300€ of merchandise that is intended to remain in the EU, you have to declare it and pay the corresponding VAT and import duties.

Watches have become specifically targeted by customs as they have become an instrument of choice to move money cross-border. The grey market value of some gen models makes it so that a person can move six figures sums by travelling with as little as 2-3 watches. Some of these watches can even be extremely inconspicuous as their value is not glaringly apparent (AP 15202 or PP5711 for example). Another reason why watches are favored for such operations is that a watch is considered as a personal item (whereas precious stones are not).

So yeah if you get controlled by customs with a handful of high-end luxury watches, you're in for a thorough inspection, EU resident or not

Crazy, never even thought of that