Arnold Schwarzenegger jokes 'this is the most watched watch in the world now' as full details of 'incompetent' cop blunders are revealed after he was detained in Munich for failing to declare luxury timepiece

Terminator actor, 76, was on his way to auction off the watch for his eco charity

Arnold Schwarzenegger has broken his silence after he was detained at Munich airport and taxed thousands of euros for failing to declare a luxury timepiece – labelling it ‘the most watched watch in the world now’.

The Terminator actor, 76, was on his way to auction off the watch for his eco charity when he was detained for three hours by customs officials after landing in Germany yesterday afternoon.

A spokeswoman for the former California governor told BILD that Arnie ‘cooperated at all times, even though it was an incompetent investigation, a total comedy full of errors, but which would make a very funny police film.’

She added that he ‘immediately agreed to pay the customs duty’ – which reports yesterday said amounted to €35,000 – and that it was his ‘own personal watch.’

The pricey timepiece is set to go on sale tonight at the Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative auction in Kitzbühel, Austria, with a starting price of €50,000.

The Terminator actor, 76, was seen holding a box in a customs office at Munich airport, in a picture obtained by BILD

The pricey timepiece is set to go on sale tonight at the Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative auction in Kitzbühel, Austria, with a starting price of €50,000

Made exclusively for Arnie by luxury Swiss manufacturer Audemars Piguet, there are said to be only 20 ever made of the limited model.

It has a black ceramic case and includes an image of Schwarzenegger doing his iconic bodybuilder pose on the back and an inscription which reads ‘Arnold Classic’.

Collectors are said to have inquired about the watch after news of Arnie’s run-in with customs officials broke.

After informing him that he had to pay a hefty penalty, officers were unable to work a card machine, according to Schwarzenegger’s spokeswoman.

His 49-year-old girlfriend Heather Milligan and a friend – both of whom had accompanied him on a flight from Los Angeles this afternoon – were not allowed to go to the bank with him, it was reported yesterday.

The amount was said to be too high to take out at the ATM, while the bank was also closed, forcing them to return to the customs office before another machine was found.

There were suggestions yesterday that Schwarzenegger may have had to leave the watch with customs officers, but BILD reports that he has now taken it with him to Kitzbühel for the auction tonight.

The film star was yesterday pictured with customs officers smiling as he held up a green Audemars Piguet box with the a note on it which read: ‘For Austria – Arnold will bring with him’.

US-Austrian actor, businessman, retired bodybuilder and former Governor of California, speaks during the opening of the Austrian World Summit in 2023

Schwarzenegger brought out his own limited edition model with Audemars Piguet in 1999

File image shows Arnold Schwarzenegger holds a Audemars Piguet watch included in a 2003 auction

The ex politician is known for his love of flashy watches, and famously brought out his own limited edition model with Audemars Piguet in 1999.

Only 1,500 of the Royal Oak Offshore ‘Arnold Schwarzenegger The Legacy’ pieces were ever produced and they retail for more than £30,000.

His extensive collection of watches is also said to include pieces by Rolex and other luxury brands.

The Austrian born actor was also on his way to watch the Hahnenkamm Race, a major contest in the Alpine ski calendar.

He runs Vienna-based charity The Schwarzenegger Climate Initiative, an eco group which is raising funds at a party during the prestigious race week.