GUANGZHOU, March 17 -- Police in south China's Guangdong Province have detained four people for selling and possessing guns without licenses, and seized 14 guns and hundreds of bullets, local authorities said Friday.

According to Yan Zhaoxiong, deputy director of Chaozhou Public Security Bureau, an investigation was launched in December after the suspects allegedly traded guns online.

Three suspects were arrested in Chaozhou on Feb. 15 and the other was captured in north China's Tianjin Municipality on Feb. 24, the police said.

Manufacture and sale of guns is illegal in China, and members of the general public are not allowed to own guns. Anyone found in possession of a gun can face up to seven years in prison.