French police are investigating the disappearance of Interpol chief, Meng Hongwei, who was reported missing after travelling from France to his native China, and they have placed his wife under protection after threats.
Meng's wife contacted police in Lyon, the French city where the international police agency is based, after not hearing from him since September 25, and after receiving threats by phone and on social media, France's interior ministry said.
The initial working assumption of Western investigators was that Meng had antagonised Chinese authorities in some way and had been detained as a result, a person familiar with the investigation said.
"France is puzzled about the situation of Interpol's president and concerned about the threats made to his wife," the ministry said.
Meng's wife, who has remained in Lyon with their children, was receiving protection, it said.
China has not commented officially on Meng's disappearance and there was no mention of him in official media on Saturday.
The entrance hall of Interpol's headquarters in Lyon, central France. Source: AAP
"Exchanges with Chinese authorities continue," the ministry added.
China has not commented officially on Meng's disappearance and there was no mention of him in official media on Saturday.
There have been several cases in recent years of senior Chinese officials vanishing without explanation, only for the government to announce weeks or months later that they have been put under investigation, often for suspected corruption.
It was not clear why Meng, 64, who was named Interpol's president two years ago, had travelled to China.
Hong Kong's South China Morning Post quoted an unnamed source as saying Meng had been taken for questioning as soon as he landed in China, but it also was not clear why.
French police are investigating what is officially termed in France a "worrying disappearance".
Interpol, which groups 192 countries and which is usually focused on finding people who are missing or wanted, said it was aware of reports about Meng's "alleged disappearance", but added it was a matter for the relevant authorities in both France and China.
In this July 4, 2017 file photo, Interpol President, Meng Hongwei, delivers his opening address at the Interpol World congress in Singapore. Source: AAP
Presidents of Interpol are seconded from their national administrations and remain in their home post while representing the international policing body.
Meng is listed on the website of China's Ministry of Public Security as a vice-minister, but lost his seat on its key Communist Party Committee in April, the South China Morning Post reported.
When Meng was named Interpol's president in November 2016, human rights groups expressed concern that Beijing might try to leverage his position to pursue dissidents abroad.
Beijing has in the past pressed countries to arrest and deport to China citizens it accuses of crimes, from corruption to terrorism.
