Immigration agents are trying to determine what happened to the Nepalese workers, among hundreds brought to the United States to work at a DVD factory operated by Cinram Inc, said Ms Lauren Bethune, a spokeswoman for the Alabama Department of Homeland Security.

'We do not in any way consider it a security threat, but we do think it is important,' she said.

A Huntsville television station, WAAY-TV, first reported on the missing workers.

Cinram's human resources director, Mr Peter Hassler, did not immediately return a telephone call seeking comment.

Mr and Mrs Tim Snopl told the TV station they rented apartments in two buildings last fall to about 240 workers from Nepal. They were recruited to come to the United States by a company that provides staffing for Cinram.

But Mrs Mary Snopl said scores of the workers are now missing, along with hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of furniture, televisions and kitchenware.

'I don't know if they're living in Huntsville or somewhere else, I just know they aren't living with us and they aren't working at Cinram,' she said.

Reports last fall said Cinram had hired about 1,350 foreign workers to package DVDs at its plant in Huntsville. Cinram - which describes itself as the world's largest maker of pre-recorded multimedia products - said it turned to foreign workers because the area job market couldn't fill its needs. -- AP