Brothers Linked to 14 Murders Profit Nearly £400,000 from Government Knife Surrender Scheme
An Apprentice star and his brother, whose online businesses have been linked to weapons used in at least 14 murders across Britain, have reportedly amassed nearly £400,000 through a controversial government buy-back scheme for prohibited knives. Adam Eliaz, who gained notoriety on Lord Sugar’s “Young Apprentice” at the age of 17 in 2010, and his older sibling Eddy, have faced accusations of profiting from the sale of weapons such as zombie knives and ninja swords online.
Police investigations have revealed that blades originating from Adam’s company, DNA Leisure, and Eddy’s enterprise, Sporting Wholesale, have been connected to a grim toll of fatalities. This includes the tragic case of 16-year-old Ronan Kanda, who was fatally attacked with a 22-inch ninja sword in Wolverhampton in June 2022.
The brothers’ extensive operations, which involved selling a vast array of knives from warehouses situated in Luton, Bedfordshire, saw their business model significantly impacted by the government’s ban on zombie knives, which came into effect on September 24, 2024. The new legislation makes it illegal to possess knives with sharpened blades exceeding 8 inches (20cm) if they also feature characteristics such as serrated edges, multiple blade holes, spikes, or more than two sharp points.
Adam Eliaz previously drew considerable criticism for actively encouraging his customers to purchase his stock of zombie knives in anticipation of the impending ban. However, his actions, along with those of his brother, ignited further outrage among the families of murder victims when it emerged they had received substantial payments from a government scheme. Under this initiative, the Home Office offered compensation for surrendered weapons, with a minimum payment of £10 per knife.
According to figures released by police and the Home Office, the millionaire brothers were responsible for an astonishing 78 per cent of the 47,795 knives surrendered during the month-long compensation period. Adam’s DNA Leisure handed in 1,500 knives, while Eddy’s Sporting Wholesale surrendered a staggering 35,800. This resulted in the brothers receiving a combined payment of at least £373,000, funded by taxpayers.
While the brothers are understood to dispute the figures and the notion of profiting from the scheme, the substantial payments they received have raised serious questions about the administration of the program, which critics have described as having “huge flaws.” An impact assessment from the Home Office had projected that only 472 blades would be handed in, leading to a total payout of £14,000 – a significant underestimation of the actual scale of the operation.
A History of Entrepreneurial 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, later appearing on “Young Apprentice” at 17. During his time on the show, he famously stated, “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 appearance, he admitted that Lord Sugar had once told him he was “too much of a nice guy,” suggesting he had since adapted his approach.
Adam founded DNA Leisure with the support of his brother Eddy, who was already running Sporting Wholesale. Sporting Wholesale operated as a bulk importer, sourcing products affordably from China and distributing them to retailers across the UK. Both companies specialised in equipment for fishing, shooting, and archery.
By 2017, Sporting Wholesale reported a turnover of £8 million and profits exceeding £2.5 million. Their most recent financial statements, for the year ending December 2024, indicated total equity of £2.7 million. However, their stock value saw a decline, dropping from £5.2 million in 2023 to £3.4 million in 2024.
Both DNA Leisure and Sporting Wholesale sold products under the Anglo Arms brand. Following the government’s announcement of compensation for zombie knives, they proceeded to surrender their remaining inventory of these weapons.
The Tragic Link to Violent Crime
Knives and swords purchased from DNA Leisure were identified as the weapons used in several fatal incidents, including the murders of:
- 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 the death of her brother Ronan, 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. Nikita, who featured in the Channel 4 documentary “24 Hours in Police Custody Investigates: Zombie Knives,” questioned Adam, asking, “How many of your sales have fallen into the wrong hands and led to innocent people being murdered?”
Adam’s response was chillingly dismissive. He compared the sale of zombie knives and other large bladed weapons to “stamp collecting,” suggesting that customers purchased them for home display. He wrote, “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, understandably, reacted with disbelief and anger, stating, “How are you comparing a machete to a stamp? I don’t remember people picking up stamps and killing people.” She described him as a “gigantic idiot who literally didn’t care. He was just trying to justify his behaviour.”
It is understood that the Eliaz brothers are considering legal action over their portrayal in the documentary, claiming that email exchanges were selectively used to present them in a negative light 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’.” 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 expressed her inability to comprehend how the brothers were permitted to continue their operations for so long, exposing young people to such weapons and fostering a culture where owning a lethal knife was treated as a mere hobby. While acknowledging the significant sums they profited from the surrender and compensation schemes, she expressed relief that these weapons are now being removed from circulation and are no longer flooding the streets. She concluded by stating, “He made profit off that weapon so as I see it, he was basically profiting off my brother’s murder.”
Ronan Kanda 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 a six-month period using a false identity. He then resold many of these weapons for profit. The day of Ronan’s murder, Veadhesa collected the two-sword set that he and Shergill would use from the post office. The pair ambushed Ronan as he left a friend’s house, mistaking him for the 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.
Trial judge Mr Justice Chowdhury described Veadhesa as having an “unhealthy fascination with knives” and noted that the weapons he acquired were “frightening even to look at.” He further commented, “These were for the most part large machetes and swords which have no legitimate use on our streets. It is disturbing that a 16-year-old could so easily purchase such items online. The businesses engaged in this kind of trade should reflect on their facilitation of knife crime and the devastating consequences for the lives of so many.”
Company Statements and Defence
DNA Leisure and Sporting Wholesale have maintained that they did not sell knives prohibited under the legal definitions in place at the time of sale and that they complied immediately with updated legislation. DNA Leisure stated that it made a “commercial decision” to cease selling “bladed articles on our website from the 13th of June [2024].” Sporting Wholesale continues to import and sell fishing equipment and crossbows.
When previously approached for comment, a man claiming to be Adam’s father, at a family home address in Watford, Hertfordshire, stated that Adam had relocated to Canada. When questioned about his son selling knives to individuals involved in killings, he gestured towards his luxury SUV and 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 were from fishing equipment, a claim that could not be independently verified.
Adam Eliaz had previously issued a statement asserting, “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 argued that recent media coverage had inadvertently increased website traffic, 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 stated. He maintained that the vast majority of their customers were law-abiding individuals who were aware of and adhered to the law, and that “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 comment but declined to appear in the Channel 4 documentary.
A Home Office spokesperson commented on 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.”
