Jonathan Soares, 20, has pleaded guilty to 12 offenses, including fraudulently evading a 2016 ban on the import and sale of zombie knives and tasers. Soares was caught importing weapons in bulk from Pakistan, South Korea, and China to be sold through a criminal network in London.
Soares was arrested on June 9 after officers identified him as the administrator of a Telegram account advertising fraud and money laundering services. At the time of his arrest, he was working as a security guard. Police seized two mobile phones, and a subsequent search of his address uncovered five additional phones, a laptop, an illegal flick knife, and two safes containing £7,690 in counterfeit cash. Further analysis of his devices revealed over 2.5 million files, including stolen personal data and scripts designed to impersonate banks.
Investigators identified a shipment Soares ordered to an address in Croydon that contained 150 machetes. Messages recovered from Soares' devices showed him and his network discussing the exploitation of market gaps for profit as criminals sought to bypass tightened knife laws. Soares sourced weapons in bulk, providing manufacturers with detailed specifications, including requesting a blade that had been featured in a BBC article reporting on the ban of zombie knives.
Evidence indicated that Soares was selling weapons across London and encouraged his resellers to expand their operations. One of these resellers, identified as a schoolboy, was involved in distributing the weapons. Rayhan Rahman, 18, one of Soares' resellers, pleaded guilty at Inner London Crown Court to charges related to the fraudulent evasion of prohibitions on zombie knives and push daggers, and being concerned in the fraudulent evasion of prohibitions on zombie knives and flick knives. Rahman is scheduled for sentencing on October 13.
Detective Chief Inspector Imran Beg stated that Soares sold deadly weapons with a disregard for the harm they caused, even seeking feedback from buyers who were using the weapons for stabbings. Beg also highlighted that economic crime often fuels wider criminality, and that specialist detectives worked to dismantle Soares' network. Commander Stephen Clayman, Head of the National Knife Crime Centre (NKCC), noted that the investigation prevented hundreds of deadly weapons from reaching communities. He identified a growing threat from online sellers who circumvent legislation by importing prohibited weapons in bulk for resale via social media. The investigation led to the seizure of nearly 650 knives since Soares' arrest in June, demonstrating the effectiveness of a coordinated multi-agency response.