FBI Takes Possession of Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Worth $13 Million

      Federal Bureau of Investigation

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      I’ve come across some wild stories of government raids where all sorts of valuable assets are seized, but this one might top them all. The Federal Bureau of Investigation in the United States has taken possession of a 2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK GTR Roadster worth $13 million. This car was seized as part of what the FBI has dubbed Operation Giant Slalom, an inquiry into former Olympian and current top-10 fugitive Ryan Wedding.

      What the authorities plan to do with such a vehicle is uncertain. You may recall the CLK GTR as the homologation special that allowed Mercedes and AMG to compete at Le Mans in the past. While I can vividly picture the race car speeding down La Sarthe, most of the street versions were tucked away by collectors. According to my information, Mercedes produced only 28 in total: 20 coupes, six roadsters, and two prototypes. As a roofless model, this one might be more valuable than any still in existence.

      Federal Bureau of Investigation

      Under the hood of the CLK GTR lies a mid-mounted 6.0-liter V12 engine that delivers power to the rear wheels via a six-speed sequential transmission. This engine was rated at just under 600 horsepower while reaching 7,000 rpm, which sounds magnificent. Take a listen:

      Anyway, the FBI confiscated the CLK GTR from the Wedding organization, which is linked to a vast network of individuals believed to aid the Canadian former snowboarder in drug trafficking and money laundering. Wedding is thought to be hiding in Mexico, and officials in Washington D.C. have likened him to notorious figures like Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman and Pablo Escobar. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi stated, “He controls one of the most prolific and violent drug-trafficking organizations in the world.”

      Reports indicate that Wedding’s international operation generates around $1 billion in illegal drug profits each year. In that context, a $13 million collector car is just a minor expense. Only time will reveal what the authorities will decide regarding the CLK GTR, but given the circumstances, you might be able to figure it out by watching a few white-collar crime films to see the common plotline that unfolds next.

      Honestly. This is crazy.

      Federal Bureau of Investigation

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