The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is now the proud owner of a rare 2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR. The car is one of just six ever made and is worth around $13 million. The story of how the FBI came into possession of this rare roadster is very interesting.

Former Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding is tied to the Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR. Wedding also just so happens to be on the current FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list.

The FBI wants Wedding, a former Olympic athlete from Canada, for his involvement in a large cocaine trafficking ring. And by involvement, they mean he is the kingpin of the operation. Last week, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a $15 million reward for his capture.

“He controls one of the most prolific and violent drug-trafficking organizations in this world,” U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said about Ryan Wedding. His organization has trafficked 60 metric tons of cocaine per year, and is responsible for more than $1 billion a year in illegal drug proceeds.

The seized Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR is just one of six ever made

Federal agents seized the sweet ride as part of “Operation Giant Slalom.” Mercedes and AMG created the CLK GTR to race at Le Mans in the late 1990s. They produced it in such small quantities just to meet the GT1 homologation standards.

The roadster boasts a naturally aspirated 6.9L V12 and a sequential six-speed manual transmission. It originally made 604 hp and 572 lb-ft of torque.

The Sultan of Brunei had one of the six Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR roadsters painted dark silver with a purple interior. An Indian businessman later bought it. Another one sold in 2023 for a little over $10 million.

Ryan Wedding is wanted for ordering murders

44-year-old Ryan Wedding was an Olympic snowboarder for Canada. He competed for Canada in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. The FBI now believes he lives in Mexico, where he runs his operation.

These days, according to Pamela Bondi, he “works closely with the Sinaloa Cartel.” Wedding, who also goes by the aliases El Jefe, Giant, and Public Enemy, allegedly ordered the murders of two members of a family in Canada and the attempted murder of another member of that family.

In addition to that, authorities also accuse Wedding of ordering the murder of a federal witness—who assailants executed with five bullets to the head earlier this year—before he could testify against Wedding.