MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian spy agencies were not involved in an alleged smuggling network uncovered by the United States and Moscow is concerned by the espionage allegations, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Thursday.

"The charges are of a criminal nature and have nothing to do with the work of the secret services," he was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies.

(Reporting By Nastassia Astrasheuskaya, Editing by Timothy Heritage)