While I have zero knowledge of this particular situation, I've spent a fair amount of time in Central America and "corrupt law enforcement does something creepy" really does not seem all that far fetched to me. The rule of law does not work the same way it does in the US or western Europe - I too would hesitate to trust the legal system, especially if I had been around long enough to piss off (eg fail to bribe) the local authorities.

Of course McAfee may very well be a nutter. These are not mutually exclusive propositions.