Hizbullah: U.S. Money Laundering Charges Aimed at Tarnishing Resistance’s Image
Hizbullah denied on Thursday U.S. allegations of involvement in a $300 million laundering scheme and drugs trafficking, saying they are aimed at targeting the resistance and tarnishing its image.
“Hizbullah categorically denies the false accusations of its involvement directly or indirectly in money laundering or drug trafficking or banking transactions as claimed by the New York Times,” the party said in a statement.
It slammed what it called attempts to cover up the operations of the spy networks backed by the U.S. to gather information on Hizbullah in favor of Israel.
The U.S. government said in a lawsuit filed in a Manhattan federal court last week that it seeks nearly a half-billion dollars in money-laundering penalties from some Lebanese financial entities, 30 U.S. car buyers and a U.S. shipping company.
Prosecutors said the $300 million was wired from Lebanon to the United States and used to buy used cars and ship them to West Africa. They said Hizbullah money-laundering channels were used to ship proceeds from the car sales and narcotics trafficking back to Lebanon.
The U.S. accusations came after an indictment in federal court in Virginia accused fugitive Ayman Joumaa of leading a drug conspiracy that provided income for Hizbullah.
The New York Times also provided further insight into the issue saying the Lebanese Canadian Bank was one of the major entities laundering money for an international cocaine ring with ties to Hizbullah.
“The accusations marketed by the American administration against Hizbullah of funding its activities through illegitimate means are nothing but a new attempt aimed at targeting the resistance in Lebanon and tarnishing its image,” the party said.
It added that the U.S. allegations came against the backdrop of the “failure” of the American “security” scheme to target Hizbullah through its spying networks in Lebanon.
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