FBI Just Nabbed A $13M Mercedes Tied To A Canadian Olympian Gone Rogue
Federal agents seized the ultra-rare Mercedes CLK-GTR amid a global manhunt for fugitive cartel associate Ryan Wedding
https://www.carscoops.com/author/stephen-rivers/
by Stephen Rivers
The FBI seized a 2002 Mercedes CLK-GTR Roadster valued at $13M.
Only six CLK-GTR Roadsters exist, making this one a true unicorn.
Fugitive Ryan Wedding remains wanted with a $15M reward offered.
The FBI has a shiny new trinket to keep in its possession, at least for the time being. In its custody sits an ultra-rare 2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK-GTR Roadster. The German brand made just 26 CLK-GTRs to abide by homologation rules, and this is one of just six total roadsters, giving it near-mythical status in the automotive world.
More: You Can Buy This Insane Mercedes-Benz CLK LM And Drive It On Public Roads
According to the Bureau, the car’s value sits around $13 million, and for once, that estimate isn’t inflated. The agency seized it last week during a raid linked to a former Olympic snowboarder who allegedly traded the halfpipe for a drug empire.
What Kind of Machine Is It?
First, let’s focus on the car. Under the rear clamshell is a 6.9-liter V12 that originally made 604 hp (450 kW) and 572 lb-ft (775 Nm) of torque. All of that rolls toward the rear wheels only via a sequential six-speed manual.
In a world of cars dubbed “race car for the road,” the CLK-GTR is the real deal. It’s a holy relic from one of the last generations of analog road-going supercars.
A Tangled Backstory
According to the FBI, this example is related to Ryan Wedding, a Canadian snowboarder who once represented his nation at the Olympics in 2002. Authorities allege he later headed a global drug and money-laundering operation that trafficked literal “tons of cocaine” into the United States.
Instead of standing on the Olympic podium, Wedding now graces a different kind of leaderboard, appearing on the FBI’s Most Wanted list, with a $15 million reward for information leading to his capture.
A total of ten defendants were arrested across multiple countries last week as part of the enforcement wave. Authorities say that seized assets, like the Mercedes, represent laundered proceeds tied to the enterprise’s operations. It’s unclear exactly how Wedding is connected to the car.
If Wedding is convicted and the asset is officially forfeited, the CLK-GTR could end up being sold under federal supervision. The government has historically liquidated seized exotic vehicles, including high-value Lamborghinis, Ferraris, and McLarens, through controlled auctions.
Given the rarity of the CLK-GTR and the headline-grabbing nature of this case, whoever eventually takes ownership may acquire not just a legendary car, but a rolling piece of criminal-history provenance.
