Astonished police in Mexico have arrested five members of a notorious drugs cartel found bound to a lamppost with gaffer tape.

The men - suspected of killing a taxi driver earlier this week - were discovered by passers-by in Ciudad Cuauhtemoc, in the northern state of Chihuahua, who called police.

Witnesses told local media they had been gagged, blindfolded and strapped to a street light with thick gaffer tape and rope.

Bound and gagged: Five members of the notorious Nuevo Cartel de Juarez were found bound and gagged, and tied to a lamppost (pictured) until locals called police

A sign identifying them as members of the New Juarez Cartel drugs gang was also displayed, apparently taped to the body of one of the tied-up gang associates.

Baffled police are now trying to establish whether they were seized by vigilantes or were handed over by members of their own or a rival cartel.

The gang are based in Ciudad Juarez, which is also in the state of Chihuahua, a city that is on the border with the United States and is considered to be one of the most dangerous cities in Mexico because of its ruthless drugs gangs.

Local media police sources say all the men were shocked and distressed but physically unharmed.

Although originally called the Juarez Cartel, the country's federal police have announced that the cartel is now to be referred to as the 'Nuevo Cartel de Juarez' - or the New Juarez cartel.