WUHAN - Chinese police have busted a criminal ring that purchased gun components through the Internet then assembled and sold them online, local authorities announced on Tuesday.

The major suspect, surnamed Dai, confessed that he sold six small-bore rifles to buyers in six provinces this year at a price of 20,000 yuan ($3,257) to 40,000 yuan each, according to the public security bureau of Huangshi city, Hubei province.

Police caught four suspects involved in assembling, selling and buying the guns. They seized eight guns, 29 sets of rifle components and 6,000 bullets.

China bans the manufacturing and sale of guns in order to control violent crime. Private citizens are not allowed to own guns. According to Chinese law, a person can be sentenced to prison for up to seven years if convicted of illegally owning a gun.