Police in the central Interior of B.C. have arrested a 63-year-old man after seizing a massive arsenal of semi-automatic rifles, illegal large capacity magazines and ammunition from his home.

Sgt. Lindsey Houghton, with the province's Combined Forces Special Enforcement Unit, says 183 firearms and tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition were seized from the man's house in Tatla Lake, 220 kilometres west of Williams Lake.

Houghton says police were tipped that the man was selling a wide range of weapons including AR-type rifles, SKS semi-automatic rifles and handguns.

"Many of these guns are capable of firing rounds that could pass through vehicles, doors, walls and even body armour. That is an unacceptable risk to the public and the police," said Houghton.

Officers must now figure out where the guns came from, and how they got into Canada and then into the possession of the man, said Houghton.

"While this seizure is not believed to be tied to gang activity at this time, it appears that these guns and ammunition were destined to be sold to the highest bidder and the fear was, had we not acted immediately, that the guns could eventually make their way into the hands of violent criminals around British Columbia."

Police said almost all the weapons the man had were legal in Canada, but that it is illegal to resell them on the black market.

The man, who has no criminal record, has been released from custody pending the continuation of the investigation and charges from Crown Counsel, said Houghton.