One of Gaddafi’s Sons Sought to Move to Mexico

One of the sons of former Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi sought exile in Mexico, but his efforts were thwarted.

CNN reported that the Mexican interior minister Alejandro Poire revealed that Saadi Gaddafi attempted to secretly travel to the country carrying false documents. Three other people, a Mexican, Canadian and a Dane, apparently tried to assist him the criminal plot, Poire told a news conference.

The minister added that the conspiracy, which involved the purchase of safe houses and the opening of bank accounts, was identified in September and quickly squelched by Mexican authorities.

It is unclear exactly where Saadi is located now. According to CNN and other sources, he was last known to be residing in the West African nation of Niger, where the President Mahamadou Issoufou offered him asylum. Reportedly, Saddi crossed into Niger, which borders Libya, in September in a convoy of trucks.

BBC reported that Saadi is actually under ‘house arrest’ in Niger.

In late September Interpol issued a ‘red notice’ for Saadi, i.e., seeking to extradite him to answer criminal charges. At that time, Niger’s prime minister Brigi Rafini, refused to grant such an extradition.

Saadi, 38, was commander of the Libyan Special Forces, but also had a career as a professional soccer player and businessman.

A Wikileaks report from 2009 US diplomatic cable indicated that Saadi was a bisexual and had numerous run-ins with police in Europe.