PATRICK T. FALLON-AFP
Hollywood action hero Arnold Schwarzenegger was held at Munich airport on Wednesday, for failing to declare an expensive watch.
The Austrian-born actor and former governor of California, 76, was detained after arriving from the United States, customs spokesman Thomas Meister told AFP.
Schwarzenegger was expected to be able to continue his journey later in the day but "the watch will probably have to stay", Meister said.
He said criminal proceedings were initiated against the "Terminator" star for tax evasion.
Tax should have been paid on the watch because Schwarzenegger was intending to sell it in the European Union, according to Meister.
The luxury timepiece was due to be auctioned at a fundraising dinner for Schwarzenegger's climate initiative in Kitzbuehel on Thursday.
According to the initiative's website, items typically auctioned at such dinners include works of art and signed memorabilia.
The bespoke timepiece was made specially for Schwarzenegger by Swiss watchmaker Audemars Piguet.
The watchmaker has an entire "Arnold Schwarzenegger" range, although the auction watch will be available to view for selected guests at Thursday's dinner.
