Murder victim Ricardo Borja has emerged as a man of mystery since his death on August 21st.
His tales of real estate fraud and other high crimes have been posted on YouTube. But we've also been following up on his prolific collection of licensed weapons. And tonight there is more proof - coming from TIK TOK of all places - of the small armory he had. Jules Vasquez reports:
These are the weapons that 27 year old murder victim Ricardo Borja or someone affiliated with him posted on a Tik Tok page under another name in September of 2022 - one year ago.
The weapons are very high powered and military grade. Borja was certainly not shy about being a gun enthusiast, and he proudly displays his collection of semi automatic assault rifles - modified with top notch optics. He also displayed his array of nine millimeter pistols.
These guns look far less deadly in the gun license register where they are just serial numbers on file. Commissioner Chester Williams licensed at least 8 of them for Borja between March 2021 and July 2022.
In July of 2022 alone, Borja got three guns licensed in just 8 days: a 7 MM bolt action Rifle on July 18, and 8 days later on the 26th, a 9 MM pistol, and a.223 rifle - those two on the same day.
But why would anyone need so many guns!? It's an excessive amount of firepower for any individual to have - but the commissioner said Borja was qualified:
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"I can tell you, I was the one who approved those licenses. He did produce all the requisite documents and proof that he owns a business and he was generating funds and so he would fall within the category of those persons."
We are told this video appears to have been taken at an old BDF range across from Los Lagos - which is a not licensed gun range.
They also appear to be displayed in the back of the 2021 Toyota Tacoma which he bought in July. That's the same vehicle where he casually left this high-powered rifle, complete with laser scope and sniper tripod in the backseat of his pickup.
Borja uses the same TikTok page to boast about his collection of high end vehicles including Italian sports cars and the requisite Prado. He was a young man with many prized assets and wasn't shy to boost about then,
The Prime Minister says he doesn't see why anyone would need to many guns:
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"I do not support guns in this country. I do not own a gun. And if it was left to me and I got into trouble with some members from cabinet, I would ban all gun holding guns in this country."
Reporter
"That's a that's a strong buck, but that's what I feel. But our members in cabinet might feel differently."
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"But I would ban guns in Belize. Look at what has happened over the years. This fallacy that by giving people guns to be able to protect themselves is not working. Because what do they do? The criminals, they go and hold you up. They theif your gun and then they use it to commit crime. So I would ban it if it was left up to me."
Reporter:
"But if the Compol did provide Borja with these ten gun licenses, should there be some type of penalty for him?"
John Briceno, Prime Minister
"Well, there's something I don't know. So I would have to take a look if "it happened. And what were the circumstances?"
The circumstances simply seem to be that Ricardo Borja really liked a lot of guns - and the commissioner of police apparently had no problem signing licenses for them.
Many gun experts we spoke to said they had a hard time classifying those weapons as they are exceptionally rare in Belize.
