Alleged Eel Smugglers Caught After Manhunt

New Hampshire Fish and Game has identified the two brothers arrested Friday in Hampton Falls for illegally harvesting young eels in a New Hampshire coastal river.

Matthew Kinney, 29, of Bremen, Maine is charged with assaulting a police officer, disobeying a conservation officer, resisting arrest, taking American eels less than 6 inches in length, and taking American eels without a harvest permit. Bail was set at $5,000 cash.

His brother, Justin Kinney, 35, of Mt. Vernon, Maine is charged with disobeying a conservation officer, hindering apprehension, providing false information to an officer, taking American eels less than 6 inches in length, and taking American eels without a harvest permit. Bail was set at $2,500 cash.

If they are unable to post bail, Matthew and Justin Kinney will be held at the Rockingham County jail until their arraignment on Monday in Seabrook District Court.

According to a press release, New Hampshire Fish and Game Law Enforcement received information around 5 a.m. Friday that two individuals were dipping glass eels, also known as elvers, in the Hampton Falls River near Route 1 in Hampton Falls.

Fish and Game conservation officers responded to the scene and found the men leaving the site in possession of illegal glass eels. While being handcuffed, Matthew Kinney resisted. He reportedly struck an officer and was pepper sprayed, then fell into the Hampton Falls River and fled into the nearby marsh. Justin Kinney also fled, but was taken back into custody a short time later.

A search commenced for Matthew Kinney involving conservation officers, state police, police from Seabrook, Hampton Falls and Kensington, K-9 teams from Fish and Game and state police, and a state police helicopter. A state police tracking dog led searchers to Matthew Kinney's location in a rented room at the Hampton Falls Inn. He was taken into custody at 9:15 a.m.

Fish and Game said a number of incidents of poaching migrating young eels have occurred in the region as the price they bring on foreign markets has escalated.

"It is a violation of the law to harvest these young eels in New Hampshire," New Hampshire Fish and Game Conservation Officer Lt. Michael Eastman said. "As this incident shows, we are aggressively enforcing that law, and perpetrators will face significant consequences."