“Zombie Knife” Sellers Profit from Government Buyback Scheme Amidst Murder Links
A controversial government buyback scheme designed to remove dangerous weapons from circulation has reportedly seen significant payouts to a company linked to the sale of knives used in at least 14 murders across Britain. The scheme, intended to compensate owners for surrendering prohibited weapons, has drawn sharp criticism, particularly concerning the substantial sums received by brothers Adam and Eddy Eliaz, whose online businesses have been associated with the sale of “zombie knives” and ninja swords.
Adam Eliaz, who gained public recognition at 17 as a contestant on “The Young Apprentice” in 2010, along with his older brother Eddy, operated businesses that sold these types of blades. Police investigations have linked weapons sold through Adam’s company, DNA Leisure, and Eddy’s website, Sporting Wholesale, to a grim tally of fatalities. Among the victims was 16-year-old Ronan Kanda, tragically killed by a 22-inch ninja sword in Wolverhampton in June 2022.
The brothers’ extensive involvement in the knife trade came to a head with the government’s ban on zombie knives, which came into effect on September 24, 2024. The new legislation defines illegal ownership of a knife with a blade longer than 8 inches (20cm) if it also possesses features such as a serrated edge, multiple holes in the blade, spikes, or more than two sharp points.
Adam Eliaz faced public backlash for encouraging customers to purchase his stock of zombie knives before the ban. This sentiment intensified when it emerged that he and his brother received considerable payments from a government compensation initiative, where the Home Office offered a minimum of £10 per surrendered knife.
According to figures released by the police and the Home Office, the Eliaz brothers’ companies were responsible for an astonishing 78% of the 47,795 knives surrendered during the month-long compensation period. DNA Leisure submitted 1,500 knives, while Sporting Wholesale accounted for 35,800. This resulted in the brothers receiving a minimum of £373,000 from taxpayer-funded resources.
While the brothers are understood to dispute the figures or the notion of profiting from the scheme, these payouts have raised significant questions about the scheme’s management. Critics have pointed to what they describe as “huge flaws” within the initiative. An impact statement from the Home Office revealed a significant underestimation of surrendered blades, with an expectation of only 472 items being handed in, projecting a total payout of £14,000 – a stark contrast to the actual expenditure.
A History in Commerce and Controversy
Adam Eliaz demonstrated an early aptitude for business, leaving school at 16 to establish a company selling fishing and camping equipment. His appearance on “The Young Apprentice” at 17 highlighted his ambition. He famously stated during the series’ opening: “I love making money. I’ll scrub floors to make money to be honest. I’ll do anything if it brings money in my pocket.” Reflecting on his television experience, he later admitted, “Alan Sugar told me I was too much of a nice guy, so I’ve kind of changed that now.”
Adam launched DNA Leisure with the support of his brother Eddy, who ran Sporting Wholesale. Sporting Wholesale functioned as a bulk importer, sourcing products at low costs from China and distributing them to retailers across the UK, with a specialization in fishing, shooting, and archery gear. By 2017, Sporting Wholesale reported an annual turnover of £8 million and profits exceeding £2.5 million. Financial records from the year ending December 2024 indicated total equity of £2.7 million for their operations, though their stock value had decreased from £5.2 million in 2023 to £3.4 million in 2024.
Both DNA Leisure and Sporting Wholesale marketed products under the Anglo Arms brand. Following the government’s announcement of a compensation scheme for zombie knives, they reportedly surrendered their remaining inventory.
Tragic Consequences and Disputed Responses
Knives and swords purchased from DNA Leisure were implicated in the deaths of multiple individuals, including:
- Ronan Kanda, 16, in Wolverhampton in June 2022.
- Rahaan Amin, 16, in Newham, east London, in July 2023.
- Omar Khan, 39, in Luton, in September 2023.
Following her brother Ronan’s death, his sister Nikita contacted Adam Eliaz, informing him that a ninja sword set, purchased from DNA Leisure for just £16.99, had been used in the attack. Nikita, who featured in the Channel 4 documentary “24 Hours in Police Custody Investigates: Zombie Knives,” questioned Adam about the potential misuse of his products: “How many of your sales have fallen into the wrong hands and led to innocent people being murdered?”
Adam Eliaz’s response, which he later described as comparing zombie knives to “stamp collecting,” drew significant condemnation. He wrote: “I am sorry for my delay in replying to you. I have been on holiday and was then off, unwell. The swords, machetes and larger items you are concerned about… our customers buy these just to keep at home, like people collect stamps. It really is no different and, in fact, no more dangerous, really.”
Nikita expressed her disbelief and anger at this comparison, stating, “How are you comparing a machete to a stamp? I don’t remember people picking up stamps and killing people.” She characterized his response as that of “a gigantic idiot who literally didn’t care. He was just trying to justify his behaviour.”
It is understood that the brothers are considering legal action regarding their portrayal in the documentary, alleging that their email exchanges were selectively used to create a negative image and that Adam had indeed offered his condolences.
Nikita later told the Daily Mail, “It is sickening to think how many murders Adam and Eddy Eliaz have been linked to through selling disgusting knives that are clearly designed to seriously harm or kill, yet marketed as harmless ‘collectibles’. Their weapons were sold into the hands of teenagers and young people, and my innocent brother, Ronan Kanda, was one of the many lives taken as a result of this horrific trade.” She added, “I cannot understand how Adam and Eddy Eliaz were allowed to continue operating for so long, exposing young people to these weapons and encouraging a culture where owning a lethal knife was treated like a hobby.” While acknowledging relief that these weapons are being removed from circulation, she stated, “He made profit off that weapon so as I see it, he was basically profiting off my brother’s murder.”
Ronan Kanda was fatally stabbed with a 22-inch ninja sword by 16-year-olds Prabjeet Veadhesa and Sukhman Shergill near his home. Veadhesa had purchased the sword, along with 25 other blades, from DNA Leisure over six months using a false ID and had resold many of them. He collected the two-sword set used in Ronan’s murder on the day of the crime. The attackers mistook Ronan for a friend with whom they had a financial dispute. Veadhesa and Shergill were subsequently jailed for life, serving minimum terms of 18 and 16 years respectively. The trial judge described Veadhesa’s fascination with knives as “unhealthy” and the weapons as “frightening even to look at,” noting their lack of legitimate use on streets and the disturbing ease with which a 16-year-old could acquire them online.
Business Operations and Official Statements
DNA Leisure and Sporting Wholesale have stated that they did not sell knives prohibited under the legal definitions at the time of sale and that they complied immediately with updated legislation. DNA Leisure confirmed it made a “commercial decision” to cease selling “bladed articles on our website from the 13th of June [2024].” Sporting Wholesale continues to operate, focusing on fishing equipment and crossbows.
Efforts to contact Adam Eliaz at a family address in Watford, Hertfordshire, led to a conversation with an individual claiming to be his father, who stated Adam had relocated to Canada. When questioned about his son selling knives to individuals involved in killings, he responded by gesturing towards a luxury SUV, asking, “If I went out and killed someone with this, would you ban all of these? If my son’s website was not here people would find other ways to buy these.” He also claimed that 80% of DNA Leisure’s sales were from fishing equipment, a figure that could not be independently verified.
Adam Eliaz previously issued a statement: “We are deeply saddened by any loss of life, and our hearts go out to the victims’ families. It is misleading to blame us for knife crime. The misuse of these items is beyond our control and reflects broader societal issues related to gang and drug-related crimes.” He also noted that increased media coverage had led to a significant surge in website traffic, attracting individuals with potentially harmful intentions, inadvertently exacerbating the issue. He asserted that the “vast majority of our customers… are normal, law-abiding individuals. Fully aware of the laws and behave sensibly.” He concluded by stating, “A knife isn’t a weapon, unless a person turns it into one. The products we sell are collectables and tools which are used legally and safely by the vast majority of customers.”
Adam and Eddy Eliaz have been contacted again for further comment and declined to participate in the Channel 4 documentary.
A spokesperson for the Home Office affirmed the government’s commitment to reducing knife crime, stating, “This government is committed to halving knife crime in a decade. Knife enabled homicides and robberies are down, and we have already banned zombie-style knives, machetes and ninja swords. This has taken 60,000 knives off the streets and removed deadly weapons from circulation, with fewer victims and families bearing unimaginable loss.”
