Interpol President Meng Hongwei, who has been reported missing earlier, is under investigation in China, the newspaper South China Morning Post reported on Friday citing a source.
French Interior Ministry said in a statement later in the day that France continued to exchange information with Chinese authorities over the disappearance of Meng.
In addition, the ministry stated that it was "puzzled about the situation of Interpol's president and concerned about the threats made to his wife."
Earlier in the day, the French newspaper Le Monde reported that Meng's place of detention is being kept secret.
Following the reports, Interpol made it clear that it has been knowledgeable of the disappearance of the official. The organization also commented on Meng's disappearance stressing that the whereabouts of the Interpol official was "a matter for the relevant authorities in both France and China."
"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," the organization said in a statement.
Interpol's press office has further noted that the organization's secretary general, not Meng, was in charge of Interpol's operation.
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Meng assumed office in November 2016. He has held various positions within China's Ministry of Public Security in his decades-long career. According to Interpol's website, Meng Hongwei served as Vice Minister of Public Security in China.
