The field-aligned current densities in the core of a magnetotail flux rope were directly detected with plasma instrumentation on board the Geotail spacecraft at a downstream distance of about 96 RE (Earth radii). The axis of the flux rope and the core magnetic fields were directed cross-tail, and the magnitudes of these core magnetic fields were similar to that in the magnetotail lobe at these distances. The radius of the core cross-section was about 0.7 RE, and the total current was 500,000 A. Together with a recently reported, similar measurement with the Galileo spacecraft these direct detections of current greatly strengthen the previous identifications in favor of flux ropes that were solely based on their magnetic signatures. The detection of the flux rope with the Geotail spacecraft occurred during a period of relative magnetic quiescence. ¿ American Geophysical Union 1995