FBI Seizes a $13M CLK GTR
The 2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR seized by federal agents may be the most valuable car the bureau has ever locked up. We tracked the case, and the numbers stunned us.
One of just six roadsters ever made, valued at $13 million, now sits in evidence. It ties straight to a fugitive Olympian.
Key Takeaways
- The FBI seized a 2002 CLK GTR Roadster worth $13 million under Operation Giant Slalom.
- The car links to Ryan Wedding, a former snowboarder now on the FBI Ten Most Wanted list.
- The supercar will likely be held as evidence, then auctioned.
Why This Supercar Matters
The CLK GTR is no ordinary collector piece. It was built so Mercedes could go racing in the FIA GT Championship and at Le Mans.
Only road versions exist because of homologation rules, which is why our team flagged this seizure as historic.
Just 28 were ever made.
| CLK GTR Specs | Detail |
|---|---|
| Engine | 6.0L V12 |
| Horsepower | 612 hp |
| Transmission | 6-speed sequential |
| Original price | $2.6 million |
| Seized value | $13 million |
The original sticker made it the most expensive new car in the world at the time. You can see why collectors chase these models so hard.
How Rare Is It, Really?
We checked the production math, and the roadster is the prize. Most surviving cars are coupes, so a roofless example may top them all.
That rarity is what gives this supercar asset seizure its record-setting weight, according to federal filings.
| Production Breakdown | Units |
|---|---|
| Coupes | 20 |
| Roadsters | 6 |
| Prototypes | 2 |
| Total | 28 |
- Six roadsters worldwide.
- One now in FBI custody.
- If you follow rare car news, this stands alone.
Who Is Ryan Wedding?
The 2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Seized fugitive at the center is a former 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic snowboarder. Authorities now call him a Canadian drug kingpin.
Officials compared his alleged network to El Chapo and Escobar, a claim detailed in FBI statements.
That fall from the podium to the most-wanted board is staggering.
| Ryan Wedding Case Timeline | Event |
|---|---|
| 2002 | Competed as Olympic snowboarder |
| March 2025 | Added to FBI Ten Most Wanted |
| Nov 2025 | CLK GTR seized |
| June 2025 | Bounty raised to $15M |
We found the Ryan Wedding drug trafficking charges chilling.
He is accused of moving cocaine on a massive scale, a point underscored across our crime coverage.
The Operation Behind the Seizure
The 2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Seized bureau named the case Operation Giant Slalom. The label nods to Wedding’s snowboarding past.
Prosecutors say the FBI Ten Most Wanted fugitive ran a billion-dollar empire, per Justice Department records.
| Operation Giant Slalom Facts | Figure |
|---|---|
| Cocaine moved | 66 tons per year |
| Annual proceeds | $1 billion |
| Current bounty | $15 million |
| Car seized | 1-of-6 CLK GTR Roadster |
Ten people faced indictment in the sweep. The $15 million bounty now matches the car’s open-market value.
Our team noted that irony, and so did readers tracking this story.
A Le Mans prototype with number plates only 25 made.
This wasn’t a luxury coupé, it was a Le Mans car forced onto the road.
The CLK GTR sat so low you’d struggle with speed bumps, and its aero looked stolen from a pit lane. Underneath, a 6.9-litre V12 ready to destroy anything… pic.twitter.com/Doiv0dZngN
— Autowelt (@Autoweltmedia) September 8, 2025What Happens to the Car Now?
Seized vehicles rarely stay parked forever. The CLK GTR will likely be held as evidence until the case closes.
Then it heads to auction, where bidding could set a record for the model.
- Pros for buyers: ultra-rare roadster, documented history, blue-chip value.
- Cons: legal cloud, long wait, uncertain timing.
We will keep watching the CLK GTR roadster case. 2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Seized you care about supercar auctions, bookmark this one.
The story of the 2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR seized by the FBI is far from over.