Mexico City, Dec 8 (IANS/RIA Novosti): Slain Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's 38-year-old son Saadi Gaddafi was to be smuggled into Mexico but his plan was thwarted by Mexican authorities, the interior minister said.

Saadi and members of his family tried to enter Mexico in September, Alejandro Poire said Wednesday at a news conference in Mexico City.

The Libyan businessman and former football player fled Libya in September amid a NATO military operation against the Gaddafi regime. He was put on Interpol's most-wanted list over allegations of corruption and intimidation dating from his time as head of the Libyan Football Federation.

Intelligence reports helped the Mexican authorities thwart the plot, which Poire said involved an "international criminal ring", including two Mexicans, a Danish and a Canadian national, who were buying houses and opening bank accounts for the Libyan fugitives.

Mexican agents arrested several people in the operation, codenamed "Ghost", said Poire.

The UN Security Council has passed a resolution imposing a travel ban on Saadi Gaddafi.