London: An international search involving Interpol has been launched to locate a London-based wealthy Indian family that has gone missing for the last six weeks with police expressing apprehension that they might have been kidnapped by a smuggling gang.

Amarjit Chohan (46), a well-known figure in the Asian community in Southall, West London, his wife Nancy (25), their two sons and his mother-in-law vanished without explanation from their home in Heston, West London on February 16.

Chohan owns a fruit and vegetable import and distribution company called CIBA with a 5-million-pound turnover a year.

Nancy's brother Onkar Verma, who lives in New Zealand, first raised the alarm when his sister stopped calling him. He said he was very concerned about what had happened to them.

"I am extremely worried for their safety. It is extremely unusual and out of character for Nancy to go missing and to hear nothing from her or my mother," 28- year-old Varma said reading out a statement after arriving in London.

Police alerted Interpol to the family's disappearance and asked forces across Europe and India to be alert for anyone matching the Chohans' descriptions crossing borders.

Police investigating the firm's operations fear that it was used by criminals engaged in smuggling of 'khat' into US.

Khat leaves have an effect similar to amphetamines. The shrub is grown in Somalia and East Africa and is not illegal in Britain, but it is banned by US authorities.

Sources said the businessman may have gone into hiding with his family, or they may have been abducted.

Detective Inspector Andy Rowell said, "We do not know if there is any foul play involved. They could have just disappeared, been forced to disappear or been made to look like they disappeared, we really do not know. There are, however, circumstances which we believe are suspicious."

At the time the family disappeared Chohan's passport was at the Home Office because his wife had applied for British citizenship. Inoculation papers for the two children, Devinder, 17 months, and Ravinder, two months, were left in their home and the only items missing were some photographs.

Favourite toys including Thomas the Tank Engine, belonging to the couple's sons, were found strewn untidily around their home while their clothes remained hanging in the wardrobe.

The mother in law, Charanjit Kaur's possessions are also still in the modest three- bedroom bungalow in Heston. She had an airline ticket to return to India this month.

Since the family vanished a small amount of cash has been taken from their accounts but police say that it was not enough for the family for very long.

Three days before the family left their home, Chohan talked to prospective buyers about selling his company and said that he was tired of the long hours it involved. He wanted to spend more time with his family although he still wanted to work at the company if it was sold.

After Chohan disappeared, his Ford Escort car was reportedly seen being driven in Hampshire and Wiltshire.

Neighbours last saw Nancy, the children and her mother at the family home on February 16.

Five days later the car was involved in a minor crash near Southampton. The two men in the car at the time, one white and one black both wearing mechanic's overalls, gave false names and addresses.

PTI