The Mexican authorities say they have stopped a plot by a criminal organisation to smuggle one of the sons 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. On 29 September, Interpol issued a "red notice" for the arrest of Saadi Gaddafi, requiring member states to arrest him if he was on their territory. The international police agency says he is wanted on allegations of misappropriating properties through force and armed intimidation when he headed the Libyan Football Federation. Saadi Gaddafi, who used to play football in Italy's Serie A, is also subject to a travel ban and asset freeze under a UN Security Council resolution passed earlier this year.