The Mexican authorities say they have stopped a plot by a criminal organisation to smuggle the third son of Libya's ex-leader Col Muammar Gaddafi into the country.Saadi Gaddafi has been under house arrest in the West African state of Niger since he fled Libya in September.
A spokeswoman for the Mexican government said Saadi Gaddafi and some members of his family were stopped as a result of intelligence reports.
Several people have been arrested.
Mexican officials said the plot - uncovered on 6 September - involved false names and documents.
Safe houses Mexican Interior Secretary Alejandro Poire said the plan involved a criminal ring "of international dimensions," but it was uncovered in September before it could be carried out.
The ring involved people from several different countries, including Mexico, Denmark and Canada, Mr Poire told a news conference in Mexico City.
They were buying safe houses and opening bank accounts, he said.
On 14 September - eight days after the Mexican plot was uncovered - Niger said Saadi Gaddafi, 38, arrived in the capital, Niamey.
He was reported to have been flown in on a military transport plane from the town of Agadez in the north of the country.
Al-Saadi Gaddafi on born 25 May 1973 is a Libyan businessman and former football player. He onced played for the Italian clubs like Perugia, Udinese and Sampdoria. He was the commander of Libya's Special Forces and was involved in the 2011 Libyan civil war. An Interpol notice (red notice) has been issued against him. He was a part of his father's inner circle.When he signed for Italian Serie A team Perugia in 2003, he employed Diego Maradona as his technical consultant and Canadian sprinter Ben Johnson as his personal trainer. He made only one substitute appearance before failing a drug test. He was formerly on the board of the Italian team Juventus, of which 7.5% is owned by a Libyan consortium, but stepped down to join Perugia.
Personal information
Place of birth Tripoli, Libya
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 1?2 in)
Playing position Forward
Senior career*
Career statistics
| Italy | League | Coppa Italia | League Cup | Europe | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003-04 | Perugia | Serie A | 1 | 0 | ||||||||
| 2004-05 | Serie B | 0 | 0 | |||||||||
| 2005-06 | Udinese | Serie A | 1 | 0 | ||||||||
| 2006-07 | Sampdoria | Serie A | 0 | 0 | ||||||||
| Total | Italy | 2 | 0 | |||||||||
| Career total | 2 | 0 | ||||||||||
