MELBOURNE, March 29 (Reuters) – Australian securities regulators ransacked coal miners TerraCom Ltd on Monday with assistance from Queensland state police, according to a report in the Australian Financial Review.

The investigation came after regulators confirmed it was investigating the ALS testing laboratory, whose internal review last year found that about half of the certificates awarded for export coal samples over the past decade had been altered to improve demonstrated quality.

The laboratory review made no mention of associates, but began after the unfair dismissal of TerraCom – which bought the Blair Athol coal mine in 2017 from Rio Tinto – that the miner had worked with ALS to fabricate export documentation.

TerraCom, which sells coal to Japan, Korea and China, has denied the allegations that have arisen in the case. Deputy Chairman Craig Ransley told Reuters that TerraCom will continue to work with authorities on industry-wide investigations.

Australia is the world’s largest coal exporter and ALS is one of the largest coal testers. “I can confirm that a warrant was issued today on behalf of ASIC, with the assistance of the Queensland Police,” said a spokesman for the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC), on condition of anonymity TerraCom.

Queensland Police, asked if Blair Athol TerraCom’s operation had been searched, said ASIC was leading the matter and referred any questions to regulators.

Last week, local media reported that ASIC Commissioner Cathie Armor told a Senate forecast hearing that she was “well aware” of allegations that the ALS lab had improved coal quality results on export certificates.

Armor did not provide further information due to ASIC’s policy of not commenting on issues being investigated, according to a report by the Australian Associated Press. South Korean electricity provider South-East Power banned ALS from certifying its coal tender last year. (Reporting by Melanie Burton; Editing by Tom Hogue)