Brothers’ Weapons Websites Linked to Murders, Profit from Knife Surrender Scheme
Two brothers, whose online businesses have been linked to weapons used in at least 14 murders across Britain, have reportedly raked in nearly £400,000 by surrendering zombie knives under a controversial government buy-back scheme. Adam Eliaz, who gained notoriety on Lord Sugar’s “Young Apprentice” at the age of 17 in 2010, and his older brother Eddy, stand accused of profiting from the online sale of weapons described as “zombie knives” and “ninja swords.”
Police investigations have revealed that blades sold through Adam’s company, DNA Leisure, and Eddy’s website, Sporting Wholesale, have been connected to a disturbing number of fatalities. Among the tragic victims is 16-year-old Ronan Kanda, who was brutally killed with a 22-inch ninja sword in Wolverhampton in June 2022.
The brothers operated a substantial knife-selling enterprise from warehouses in Luton, Bedfordshire. Their operations, however, were significantly impacted when the UK government implemented a ban on zombie knives on September 24, 2024. The new legislation makes it illegal to possess a knife with a sharpened blade exceeding 8 inches (20cm) if it also features characteristics such as a serrated edge, multiple holes in the blade, spikes, or more than two sharp points.
Adam Eliaz previously faced public criticism for encouraging his customers to purchase his stock of zombie knives in anticipation of the ban. This move, coupled with the subsequent discovery of the significant payments received by him and his brother from a government compensation scheme, has drawn the ire of victims’ families. The Home Office had offered a minimum of £10 for each surrendered knife.
Astonishingly, figures from the police and the Home Office indicate that the millionaire brothers accounted for a staggering 78 per cent of the 47,795 knives handed in during the month-long compensation initiative. Adam’s DNA Leisure submitted 1,500 knives, while Eddy’s Sporting Wholesale surrendered 35,800. This resulted in the brothers receiving a substantial payout of at least £373,000, funded by taxpayers.
While the brothers are understood to dispute the figures and the notion of making a profit, these payments have ignited serious questions regarding the administration of the scheme, which critics have labelled as having “huge flaws.” A Home Office impact assessment had drastically underestimated the number of blades owners would hand in, projecting only 472 submissions and a total payout of £14,000.
A Young Entrepreneur’s Ambition
Adam Eliaz demonstrated a clear drive for financial success from a young age. He left school at 16 to establish a business focused on fishing and camping equipment, and his entrepreneurial spirit led him to appear on “Young Apprentice” at 17.
During his appearance on the show, Adam was candid about his motivations, stating, “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 time on television, he admitted that Lord Sugar had advised him he was “too much of a nice guy,” prompting him to alter his approach.
The Brothers’ Business Empire
Adam’s venture, DNA Leisure, was established with the support of his brother Eddy, who owned Sporting Wholesale. This company operated as a bulk importer, sourcing products cheaply from China and distributing them to retailers across the UK. Their specialisation lay in fishing, shooting, and archery equipment.
By 2017, Sporting Wholesale was reportedly generating an impressive £8 million in turnover, with profits exceeding £2.5 million. Recent financial records for the year ending December 2024 show their total equity at £2.7 million, although their stock value had decreased from £5.2 million in 2023 to £3.4 million in 2024.
Both Sporting Wholesale and DNA Leisure traded under the “Anglo Arms” brand. Following the government’s announcement of a compensation scheme for zombie knives, the brothers reportedly surrendered their remaining stock.
Tragic Consequences
The devastating impact of the weapons sold by the brothers is underscored by their link to several fatal incidents:
- Ronan Kanda, 16: Murdered in Wolverhampton in June 2022 with a knife and sword set purchased from DNA Leisure.
- Rahaan Amin, 16: Killed in Newham, east London, in July 2023.
- Omar Khan, 39: Fatally attacked in Luton in September 2023.
Following her brother Ronan’s death, Nikita Kanda wrote to Adam Eliaz, informing him that a ninja sword set used in the murder had been purchased from DNA Leisure for a mere £16.99.
Appearing in the Channel 4 documentary “24 Hours in Police Custody Investigates: Zombie Knives,” Nikita questioned Adam about the number of his sales that had fallen into the wrong hands, leading to innocent lives being lost. Adam’s response was chillingly dismissive, comparing the sale of zombie knives to “stamp collecting.” He suggested that customers purchased these items for home display, likening it to stamp collecting and asserting it was “no more dangerous, really.” Nikita expressed her disbelief and disgust at his comparison, stating she believed he was a “gigantic idiot who literally didn’t care.”
The brothers are reportedly threatening legal action over their portrayal in the documentary, claiming that their email exchanges were selectively used to present them in a negative light and that Adam had offered his condolences.
Nikita 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’.” She added, “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 questioned how the brothers were allowed to operate for so long, exposing young people to these weapons and fostering a culture where owning a lethal knife was treated as a hobby. “Even though they raked in a significant amount of money from the surrender and compensation schemes, I am at least relieved that these weapons are finally being taken out of circulation and are no longer being flooded onto our streets in the same way.” Nikita concluded, “He made profit off that weapon so as I see it, he was basically profiting off my brother’s murder.”
Ronan was tragically stabbed to death with a 22-inch ninja sword by 16-year-olds Prabjeet Veadhesa and Sukhman Shergill. Veadhesa had purchased the sword, along with 25 other blades, from DNA Leisure over six months using a false identity. He then resold many of these weapons for profit. The sword used in Ronan’s murder was collected by Veadhesa and Shergill from a post office on the day of the attack. The pair ambushed Ronan, mistaking him for a friend with whom they had a financial dispute.
Veadhesa and Shergill were subsequently jailed for life in July 2023, serving minimum terms of 18 and 16 years, respectively. The trial judge, Mr Justice Chowdhury, described Veadhesa as having an “unhealthy fascination with knives” and noted that the weapons were “frightening even to look at.” He emphasised that these large machetes and swords had “no legitimate use on our streets” and expressed concern that a 16-year-old could so easily purchase such items online. The judge urged businesses engaged in such trade to “reflect on their facilitation of knife crime and the devastating consequences for the lives of so many.”
Business Response and Public Scrutiny
DNA Leisure and Sporting Wholesale have stated that they did not sell knives prohibited by law at the time of sale and complied immediately with updated legislation. DNA Leisure indicated it made a “commercial decision” to cease selling “bladed articles on our website from the 13th of June [2024].” Sporting Wholesale continues to operate, importing and selling fishing equipment and crossbows.
Previous attempts by the media to contact Adam Eliaz at a family address in Watford, Hertfordshire, led to a conversation with a man claiming to be his father. This individual stated that Adam had relocated to Canada. When asked about his son selling knives to individuals involved in killings, he pointed to his luxury SUV and rhetorically asked, “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 per cent of DNA Leisure’s sales comprised fishing equipment, a claim 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 further argued that recent media coverage had inadvertently increased website traffic by over 500 per cent, attracting individuals with malicious intent. “By mentioning our company, the media inadvertently brings the wrong kind of attention to our site, potentially exacerbating the issue they claim to be concerned about.” He maintained that the vast majority of their customers were law-abiding individuals who used their products legally and safely, asserting, “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 Home Office spokesperson 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.”
