Missing Interpol chief Meng Hongwei detained in China for questioning, claims media reports

Interpol chief Meng Hongwei, who was reportedly missing from France since September 29, has been detained in China as part of an investigation for questioning, a media report claimed on Saturday.

South China Morning Post, a media house based in Hong Kong quoted a source saying that chief Meng was “taken away” for questioning by discipline authorities “as soon as he landed in China” last week. The reason for Meng being investigated and held is still unclear and no official confirmation has been made.

Vice-Minister at China’s Ministry of Public Security, Meng Hongwei is currently under investigation in China, amidst the mystery surrounding his disappearance after his wife reported to the French police that he went missing.

The French police acted swiftly and launched a probe for Meng on Friday after being contacted by his wife.

Interpol in a statement on Friday said that it was aware of the reports of Mengs’s “alleged disappearance” and the issue pertains to the relevant and concerned authorities in France and China. The Interpol headquarters are based in Lyon.

As per the reports from France, Meng was last spotted in France on September 29.

As of now, no official from either the public security nor the foreign ministry in China has commented on the issue.

An unnamed French judicial official was quoted saying in the report that Meng did arrive in China at the last of September but there had been no news of him since then.

Meng was appointed as the chief of Interpol in 2016 which also sparked controversy as it was alleged that China is extending its crackdown on people abroad. His serve ends in 2020.

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