Mexico formally arrests Canadian in alleged Gadhafi plot

CBC News/ Canada

Cyndy Vanier, who has been held in Mexico since Nov. 10 on accusations she led a plot to smuggle members of former Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi's family into the country, has been formally charged by Mexican authorities.

Officials in Mexico say they have formally arrested Canadian Cyndy Vanier and three co-accused who have been held for months in jail on suspicion of plotting to smuggle members of Libya's Gadhafi family to Mexico. Vanier is accused of a list of offences including attempted human trafficking, involvement in organized crime and falsification of documents. Guillermo Fonseca, a representative from Mexico's prosecutor's office based in Washington, D.C., told CBC News Vanier's arrest is akin to being formally charged. A judge must review the file to decide whether the case should proceed to trial over the next few days, he said. Officials in Mexico announced more details about their probe Wednesday, saying it tied into an earlier investigation, announced in May 2009, into the theft of thousands of blank Mexican passport books. Vanier and three others have been detained in Mexico since November. Officials said Vanier and the co-accused were involved in renting planes and travelling to Libya beginning in July to extract Saadi Gadhafi, one of the former dictator's sons, and members of his family.  More >>