THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Tuesday, February 4, 1997             TAG: 9702040380
SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B5   EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: METRO BRIEFS 
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH                    LENGTH:   25 lines

A $20,000 SURPRISE

A luxury car stopped for speeding Monday on the Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway yielded a surprise, state police say: $20,000 worth of cocaine.

A trooper stopped the black 1994 BMW at 9:30 a.m. in the eastbound lanes near Independence Boulevard. It was going about 80 mph, said police spokeswoman Tammy Van Dame. The driver, who was alone in the car, had no identification, appeared very nervous and was uncooperative, Van Dame said.

Upon inspecting the car, the trooper reported he found on the front passenger seat a duffel bag containing 182 grams of cocaine, worth about $20,000 on the street, Van Dame said. The officer also said he found $1,300 cash, but police did not say where.

Police identified the driver as Gerald R. Moody, 28, of Virginia Beach, but provided no address. He was charged with reckless driving and cocaine possession with intent to distribute, Van Dame said. He was released on $5,500 bond. Van Dame said troopers do not know where Moody was going or where he came from.

KEYWORDS: ARREST DRUGS ILLEGAL