DOVER ­— A 23-year-old Mississippi man was arrested after a loaded handgun was found in a vehicle he was driving Thursday night, authorities said.

The vehicle was stopped at approximately 10:03 p.m. on South DuPont Highway in the area of Webbs Lane in Dover for an expired New York registration, Delaware State Police spokeswoman Master Cpl. Heather Pepper said. A vehicle search ensued and a Stoeger STR 9C handgun and a small black container containing marijuana were found, police said.

Driver Joshua S. Perez, of Pascagoula, was taken into custody without incident. He was charged with possession of a firearm by a person prohibited, carrying a concealed deadly weapon, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, expired tags, and no license in possession. He was arraigned in Justice of the Peace Court 7 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on a $7,700 secured bond.

A 25-year-old passenger from Bronx, New York, was issued a civil violation for possession of marijuana and released.