Five people face a host of charges after they were pulled over Friday night for speeding on Highway 401 near Chatham, Ont., and police found a loaded handgun in their car, the OPP says.

A highway patrol officer with the Chatham-Kent OPP intercepted the eastbound vehicle west of Chatham at about 8 p.m.

"The driver alleged to be somebody that he wasn't," said Sgt. David Rektor, spokesperson for Ontario Provincial Police's west region. But "good, old-fashioned police work" by the patrolman, using databases and record checks, determined the driver's real identity — and that he was wanted in Toronto on an outstanding warrant for a charge of assaulting a police officer, Rektor said.

A search of the vehicle turned up the loaded Smith & Wesson as well as a small amount of crystal meth, a highly addictive illegal drug.

The 24-year-old driver, who is from Toronto, has been charged with obstructing police, public mischief and personating, all relating to the allegation that he lied about his identity. He has also been charged with seven weapons offences stemming from the gun, a drug offence and three traffic violations, the OPP said.

The passengers, three men and a woman ranging in age from 19 to 29, are from the Toronto area and London, Ont. They have been charged with multiple weapons offences relating to the handgun.

"They all had knowledge of it. They're in that vehicle, they're equally responsible," Rektor said. "They all have a duty to make sure that weapon is not in that car."

In total, 51 charges were laid as a result of the traffic stop.

Rektor said the OPP is still investigating how the five accused know each other and where they were going when pulled over.

All five of the vehicle's occupants had bail hearings scheduled for Saturday.