Police in the Mexican state of Chihuahua have arrested five men accused of kidnapping a lawyer and demanding a ransom in Bitcoins, the world's leading virtual currency, reports BBC World Service.

Mexican media reports say a cyber-police agent managed to trace the transactions and identify the five alleged kidnappers.

The abductors had released the lawyer, Thania Medina, on Sunday after her family paid them an undisclosed amount in Bitcoins.

They were arrested hours later in the state capital, Chihuahua, and now face lengthy prison terms.