Lost In The Dragon’s Lair: Interpol President, A Chinese National, Reported Missing After Visit To China

Interpol President Meng Hongwei has been reported missing after he went to China on a visit during September-end. ABC News reported that Hongwei’s wife complained to police that she is yet to hear from him after he left Lyon in France, the headquarters of Interpol.

French officials are sure that the 64-year-old Hongwei, who had been earlier a security official in China, had landed in Beijing. The media reported that there was no further details on Hongwei’s schedule or why his wife chose to wait for so long to report him as missing.

Interpol’s operations are unlikely to be affected since for the agency it is the secretary-general who matters and not the president. Interpol said in a statement the issue of Hongwei’s disappearance would be dealt with by officials of China and France. Hongwei was made the Interpol’s president in 2016 and his term lasts till 2020.

Hongwei served as China’s vice-minister for public security - the country’s police force, beginning 2004 till joining Interpol.

Hongwei had earlier worked with Zhou Yongkang, former security chief, who has been sentenced to life for corruption.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has been keen to get back corrupt officials and industrialists from foreign countries. Human rights organisations were up in arms when Hongwei was made Interpol president. At that time, they had alleged that he could exploit his position to pursue cases against those reported for frauds and corruption in China.