McAfee, Belize-based anti-virus software founder talks about his arrest [video]

John McAfee, the anti-virus software pioneer was arrested after his home in Belize was raided. It has taken time for the news to arrive from Central America, but according to a report on the Channel 5 Belize site, McAfee feels that he is being victimised after he refused to donate money to Belize’s ruling United Democratic Party.

McAfee has been researching the production of all-natural antibiotics with his new company Quorumex in Belize. His premises were raided by the Gang Supression Unit (GSU), a special unit of the Belize police department.

Channel 5 Belize says it received a press release from the GSU stating that this was a joint operation between the GSU, the Belize Defence Force (BDF) and the Belize Special Assignments Group (B-SAG) . The report says that the GSU announced its presence and purpose was to search for drugs and firearms. The police found plenty of guns and McAfee produced licenses for all but one of the weapons.

McAfee released his own statement to Channel 5 Belize which says:

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“I was awakened by the sound of a bullhorn, a megaphone. I went outside and saw about thirty GSU in full uniform, full dressed, automatic weapons, storming through the property and drive way. I went back inside, got some clothes on, I came out. I was told to put up my hands up against the wall as was eleven other people on the compound… I was told that they had a warrant to search property. 

At three o’clock we asked for food. We were told by the GSU, do we look like cooks to you. They murdered my dog in cold blood. That was the thing I think—it was a warning to us that this is serious; don’t mess with us.

…. I am an old man, I am sixty-six. I have a fair amount of money and not much to do. So I spend it where I think it will do go[sic]. And I don’t ever invest in politics. I don’t donate to any political party; I don’t have any political affiliations… And I refused to donate and the gentleman expected you know, I’ve given a million dollars to the police department, so he should get a huge chunk and he got nothing. Immediately after that, he began—not personality but his aids—began a campaign of calling to the local radio stations on Saturday morning talk shows saying the same thing; “What are we going to do about the white man at the toll bridge? He has all of these security guards. He’s probably involved in illegal activities. Everybody is complaining about him.”   Nothing could be further from the truth. That politician by the way did not get reelected.”

McAfee has also stated that he has attempted to contact the National Security Minister in Belize to prevent a dispute .

Rowland Parks from the Belize Reporter Newspaper caught up with McAfee after the raid and uploaded this video today.

McAfee has seen his share of troubles in the past. He was the subject of a wrongful death lawsuit and came under fire after misleading a journalist writing a feature for The Fast Company.