The president of Interpol would have disappeared in China

Paris

He left his home in Lyon, France, to travel to his homeland and then disappeared, placing the International Criminal Police Organization, better known as Interpol, at the center of his own cases of missing persons.

Meng Hongwei, president of Interpol, flew in and arrived in China, according to a French judicial official. But then, nothing. His wife, who made a call on Friday, said she had not heard from her 64-year-old husband since the end of September, said the official.

Meng is not only the head of Interpol: he is also Deputy Minister of Public Security in China.

Interpol, based in Lyon, would say only that the information on the disappearance of its president are "competent authorities in France and China."

France launched its own investigation on Friday.

If China acted was unknown. But the South China Morning Post, a Hong Kong newspaper, hinted that Meng was perhaps the latest target of an ongoing anti-corruption campaign in China.

The newspaper said when he arrived last week that Meng had been "taken away" for being questioned by what he called "disciplinary authorities." The term generally describes Communist Party investigators who investigate corruption and political disloyalty. The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, the party's internal secret inquiry agency, has not announced any announcement on its website about Meng and n & n Could be contacted for comment.

Meng is the first of his country to hold the post of president of Interpol, a largely symbolic post.

Interpol is discreet and discreet about his business, unless he wants to talk. The organization associates police officers from its 192 member states, who can use Interpol to disseminate their research in search of a fugitive or missing person.

Meng's appointment to the presidency in 2016 alarmed some human rights organizations, fearing that she would encourage China to attack dissidents and refugees abroad . Such actions would be contrary to Interpol's mission statement.

Meng has held various positions in Chinese security, including as deputy minister of public security since 2004. At the same time, he has held the positions of chief and deputy chief of the coastguard branches while occupying positions at Interpol. His tenure in Lyon lasts until 2020.

The anti-corruption campaign recently made headlines after the disappearance three months ago of the star of "X-Men", Fan Bingbing, one of the country's best-known actresses. We do not know where she is. On Thursday, Chinese tax authorities publicly spoke of her disappearance, condemning her as well as the companies she represents to pay taxes and penalties amounting to $ 130 million.