Groton ― Three men are facing drug and weapon charges after a traffic stop early Monday morning on Clarence B. Sharp Highway, police said.

According to a Groton City Police report, at 12:40 a.m. police stopped a vehicle, which did not have a front registration plate, did not have its rear registration plate illuminated, and did not maintain its lane.

Police said they found a loaded Smith & Wesson handgun containing a high-capacity magazine and drug paraphernalia inside the vehicle.

Police said they found 24.6 grams of suspected heroin and 19.5 grams of suspected crack cocaine on the rear passenger, Nadiel Rodriguez, 29, of Vernon, and found 13.2 grams of suspected heroin and drug paraphernalia on the front passenger, Pablo Colon, 45, of Hartford.

Police said they charged Rodriguez with criminal violation of a protective order, possession of narcotics, possession of narcotics with intent to sell, possession of narcotics within 1,500 feet of a school, operation of a drug factory, possession of drug paraphernalia, criminal possession of a firearm, having dangerous weapon in a motor vehicle, possession of a high-capacity magazine, conspiracy to possess a firearm, conspiracy to operate a drug factory and conspiracy to have a dangerous weapon in a motor vehicle. Rodriguez was arraigned Monday in New London Superior Court and held on a $100,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear again in court on Feb. 16.

Police said they charged Colon with possession of narcotics, possession of narcotics with intent to sell, possession of narcotics within 1,500 feet of a school, operation of a drug factory, possession of drug paraphernalia, criminal possession of a firearm, having a dangerous weapon in a motor vehicle, possession of a high-capacity magazine, conspiracy to criminally possess a firearm, conspiracy to operate a drug factory and conspiracy to have a dangerous weapon in a motor vehicle. Rodriguez was arraigned Monday in New London Superior Court and held on a $100,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear again in court on March 5.

Police said they charged the driver, Lawrence McSwiggan, 57, of Ridgefield, with possession of narcotics, possession of narcotics with intent to sell, possession of narcotics within 1,500 feet of a school, operation of a drug factory, possession of drug paraphernalia, carrying a pistol without a permit, having a dangerous weapon in a motor vehicle, possession of a high-capacity magazine, conspiracy to carry a pistol without a permit, conspiracy to operate a drug factory, failure to have rear plate illuminated, failure to display a plate and failure to maintain the proper lane. McSwiggan was arraigned Monday in New London Superior Court and released on a promise to appear in court on March 7.