An Alaskan man has been charged with drug trafficking and possession of a restricted weapon, following a search of his truck and hotel room Thursday.

Whitehorse RCMP were on the lookout for a 1997 Dodge Ram truck after receiving information from the Dawson City detachment that the driver was prohibited from operating a vehicle, RCMP spokesman Sgt. Don Rogers said today.

Officers located the vehicle in the Kulan industrial area.

While speaking to the driver, officers saw a firearm in the truck and began questioning the man more closely, the sergeant explained.

In the ensuing investigation, police located an unloaded, unlicensed .44 Magnum handgun – a restricted weapon in Canada.

They also discovered a quantity of marijuana, Rogers said.

"He was co-operative once he knew the game was up,” Rogers said.

"(But) this incident does highlight some of the dangers faced by police in normal day-to-day policing, and we are pleased that our members were able to take a restricted weapon off the streets of Whitehorse.”

A further search of the 57-year-old man's hotel room turned up more marijuana and close to $15,000 in American cash. All together, police seized 137 grams of marijuana, Rogers said.

The man now faces charges including possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking and possession of a restricted weapon with ammunition.

He may also face charges of possession of the proceeds of crime with regards to the cash, Rogers added.

The man is scheduled to appear in court this afternoon. Until then, police cannot release his name.