The Hizbullah terror group on Thursday denied charges by the United States that it was involved in drug trafficking and money laundering schemes to fund its activities.

The group said in a statement quoted by AFP, “The United States’ allegations that Hizbullah is funding its activities illegitimately is merely another attempt to tarnish the image of the resistance in Lebanon … after the failure and exposure of U.S. intelligence operations in our country.”

“Hizbullah categorically denies the false charges of its direct or indirect involvement in money laundering, drug trafficking or illegal banking operations,” the group added.

The statement comes after last week, American prosecutors charged that several Lebanese financial institutions with ties to Hizbullah were part of a massive scheme that funneled hundreds of millions of dollars in criminal proceeds through the United States.

A criminal complaint in a New York federal court targeted the Lebanese Canadian Bank and two Lebanon-based houses, the Hassan Ayash Exchange Company and Ellissa Holding, in the scheme to launder profits from narcotics dealing and other criminal activities.

The U.S. Attorney’s office is alleging that “funds were wired from Lebanon to the United States to buy used cars, which were then transported to West Africa.”

U.S. authorities have also announced the indictment of alleged international drug dealer Ayman Joumaa, who is reportedly tied to the Hassan Ayash and Ellissa companies.

Joumaa is accused of using the money laundering scheme for funds made in importing cocaine from Mexico to the United States and is suspected of having links to Hizbullah and the powerful Zeta Mexican drug cartel.