Interpol chief ‘goes missing in China’

French police said yesterday they are probing the disappearance of the Chinese head of Interpol, who has reportedly been detained for questioning in his home country.

Meng Hongwei 64, was last seen leaving for China from the international police organisation's headquarters in Lyon, southeast France, in late September, a source closed to the enquiry told AFP. His wife has since reported him missing.

"He did not disappear in France" where he lives, the source told AFP. France's Europe 1 radio reported that he left the country on September 29.

"We are aware of media reports in connection with the alleged disappearance of Interpol President Meng Hongwei. This is a matter for the relevant authorities in both France and China," it said on Twitter.

The Hong-Kong based South China Morning Post reported that Meng was under investigation in China.He was "taken away" for questioning by the authorities "as soon as he landed in China," the paper said. It was not known why Meng was being investigated.

Before being elected head of Interpol in November 2016, Meng was vice minister of public security in China.

He was the first Chinese leader of Interpol, which connects the law enforcement agencies of its 192 member countries. His term runs until 2020.