Hot Spot for Dictator’s Kids?

On Monday we reported that Harper’s Bazaar magazine identified cruiser favorite Punta Mita as the hottest destination in the world for celebrities. Maybe there is something to it, as this morning Bloomberg News reported that Mexican authorities claim they broke up an attempt in November by al-Saadi Qaddafi, one of the sons of deposed and dead Libyan dictator Muammar Qaddafi, to use fake documents to enter Mexico, open bank accounts and buy land at Punta Mita. Behind the gates of the massive Four Seasons / Dina complex, no doubt.

According to Bloomberg, "Officials in November captured a Canadian, Danish and two Mexican citizens that formed part of the international ring that moved in private aircraft between the U.S., Canada, Kosovo and several Middle Eastern countries. The group’s leader, a Canadian woman named Cynthia Vanier, was taken into custody in Mexico City, and one of the Mexican members was a U.S. resident."

Al-Saadi is currently under arrest in Niger.

Before his death, Muammar Qaddafi is said to have controlled assets worth about $240 billion, or about $30,000 for every man, woman and child in impoverished Libya. Another of the Qaddafi sons was famous for renting a villa in St. Barth for $150,000/week during the six weeks around New Years, and paying Beyonce $1 million to perform for one hour.

And so it goes with dictators and their families.