A man has admitted to importing and selling illegal "zombie knives" online, including to individuals he knew were schoolchildren, following an investigation by the Metropolitan Police. Jonathan Soares, 20, of Paulet Road in Lambeth, was initially arrested in June as part of a fraud probe. During the investigation, detectives examined his electronic devices and uncovered evidence of his involvement in importing and selling the banned weapons. Using this evidence, the police identified and seized 650 illegal zombie knives before they could reach the public. Soares had also been actively researching how to import and manufacture firearms, but the Met intervened before he could proceed with these plans. Zombie knives are a type of illegal blade banned in the UK since 2016 due to their association with violent crime. Despite the ban, they remain commonly used by criminals, with one in ten serious violent incidents involving individuals under 25 in London this year involving such weapons. Detective Chief Inspector Imran Beg, who led the investigation, said Soares sold these weapons across the country without concern for the harm they caused. In fact, Soares actively sought feedback from buyers, who used the knives to injure others. He used fraud to fund his illegal activities, highlighting the link between economic crime and broader criminal behavior. The police emphasized that their efforts have helped reduce serious violence in London and disrupt organized crime networks. Soares was arrested on 9 June after being identified as the person behind a Telegram account called "Financer," which advertised fraud and money laundering services. Detectives traced him to a building where he worked as a security guard and seized two mobile phones. At his home, they found five more phones, a laptop, an illegal flick knife, and two safes containing £7,690 in counterfeit cash. A forensic review of his devices revealed over 2.5 million files, including hundreds of stolen personal data, scripts impersonating banks, and evidence of controlled drug imports. Messages between Soares and his criminal network from 2025 to 2026 showed he was seeking to exploit gaps in the market for profit. This included a demand for weapons within the criminal community, as laws against zombie knives had become stricter. Soares ordered weapons in bulk from suppliers in Pakistan, South Korea, and China, providing detailed specifications and even sending a screenshot of a blade he wanted replicated from a BBC article on the ban. Messages also showed he was selling weapons across London, encouraging secondary sellers to expand their operations, including one who identified himself as a schoolboy. Soares was actively working to grow his business, increase shipment sizes, and research the use of 3D printing to manufacture his own firearms. A Telegram group linked to Soares led detectives to a parcel destined for Rayhan Rahman, 18, of Chadwell Heath, which contained 10 zombie knives and 20 push daggers for resale. Rahman pleaded guilty to related charges and will be sentenced on 13 October. Soares is also expected to face sentencing at a later date.