Where To Sell Contraband In Starfield (& How To Smuggle)?

Contraband in Starfield are highly illegal items that you come across throughout the many settled systems. Trying to enter a planet under the jurisdiction of United Colonies or Freestar Collective in the game subjects your spaceship to a scan and if these items are in your possession, they will be detected. Once these items are detected, a bounty will be placed on your head, which will lead to your immediate arrest on arrival on the planet. Even if you jump to another system instead of landing on the planet, the bounty will remain, preventing you from entering any other settled planet or system.

These items are, therefore, extremely dangerous to keep on your person (or in your ship), but they do possess extremely high value. Collecting and selling these items is one of the quickest ways to increase your bank balance. If you think you are up to the challenge, this guide will provide all the information you need to obtain and successfully smuggle and sell contraband in Starfield.

Which Items Are Considered To Be Contrabands In Starfield?

There are two types of illegal goods recognized by settled systems in Starfield. One of them is stolen goods. Marked in red color on your inventory, possession of stolen goods can get you in a lot of trouble if you get caught. However, these goods are not detected in the scans. The only way you pay for having stolen goods in your possession is if you get caught doing something illegal.

Contraband in Starfield, however, is much more dangerous to carry around. Tagged in yellow color, these items are considered highly illegal and they will be picked up on scans if you’re not being careful.

Contraband in Starfield consists of various types of goods, including drugs, heretic writings, illegal mech parts, illegally harvested organs, sentient AI adapters, stolen artwork, and Xenowarfare tech components. Base values of contraband items vary from 750 Credits to more than 16,000 Credits.

Where Can You Find Contraband In Starfield?

Contraband items in Starfield come in a variety of shapes and forms. These items can be found while exploring the world. The most common locations where these items can be found are abandoned research labs, enemy bases, and strongholds, such as spacer or pirate bases, Crimson Fleet bases and ships, and old mech scrapyards.

• Drugs can be found most commonly in the city of Neon, as well as Crimson Fleet and Spacer bases.
• Illegal mech components can be found in abandoned mech yards as well as by raiding Pirate ships.
• Harvested organs can also be found in Ryujin Industries areas. Abandoned labs can house harvested organs, (which can also be found in Ecliptic Mercenary organ harvesting bases) as well as sentient AI adapters.
• Stolen artwork can be found in contraband chests spread across the game’s universe.
• Xenowarfare tech is the rarest one among contraband in Starfield, which can yield over 16000 Credits when sold. These items can be found in abandoned military or classified sites.

How To Smuggle Contraband?

Before you can sell your high-value contraband goodies, you need to know how to properly store them in order to avoid detection. Entering any star system that is controlled by a faction will trigger an immediate scan, during which these contraband items will be detected. In order to avoid getting detected by these scans, you will need either a higher level of Deception skill or a shielded cargo module.

Shielded cargo modules

This is the safest way to carry contraband in Starfield. Storing contraband items in a shielded cargo module on your ship will make them completely impervious to scans. These items can be purchased in the game, however, you will need to join the Crimson Fleet in order to get your hands on them.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to getting shielded cargo modules to store contraband in Starfield:

1. Join the Crimson Fleet and make your way to The Key, a Crimson Fleet space station in the Kryx system.
2. Once you join the fleet and enter The Key, a fleet member will introduce you to a ship vendor called Jasmine.
3. After talking to her, she will show you her wares.
4. You will find various goods tagged as shielded cargo holds in her inventory.
5. These items will be slightly more expensive than the average cargo holds, ranging between 1300 Credits to 5000 Credits, depending upon their size, capacity, and brand.
6. Buy shielded cargo holds and attach them to your ship.

Alternatively, it is also possible to get your hands on these shielded cargo holds for free. If you board and take over a Mercenary vessel, there is a strong chance that these ships will have a shielded cargo hold built-in. Acquiring the Mantis Legendary ship will also help you in this regard as the ship comes with a shielded cargo hold.

Note: Before entering any settled star system, ensure that every contraband item in your possession is stored within the shielded cargo hold. Contraband items on your person or lying around your ship will be detected during the scan.

Scan Jammers

These are parts you can add to your Starfield spacecraft to further minimize the chance of getting detected while carrying contrabands.

Note: You won’t get additional benefits from stacking multiple Scan Jammers. So, install the most effective one available for you (this depends on your Ship Design skill).

Deception skill

Unlocking and maxing the Deception skill from your skill tree will make the scans even less effective. However, it is completely optional. Shielded cargo holds, and scan jammers are more straightforward options for this endeavor. Although if you are regularly hauling contrabands, this skill is worth investing a few points in, for the additional peace of mind.

Where To Sell Contraband In Starfield?

Most merchants, other than the Trade Authority, will not buy stolen items or contraband in Starfield. However, contraband items can be easily sold in the Trade Authority outlets or ships. Trade Authority sites can be found on many planets in the game’s universe, however, the only catch is that almost all of them are housed in settled planets. These buildings have a big yellow signboard, making them easy to spot, even in busy cities and settlements.

Trade Authority also has several ships spread out across the universe, which can be found while exploring. If you encounter a Trade Authority ship while you’re in space, you will need to dock your ship with theirs in order to sell your contraband items.

One of the safest places to sell your contraband goods early on in the game (before you have access to shielded cargo holds) is The Den space station in The Wolf System. Although the Wolf system is under the United Colonies’ guard, there will be no scanning before you enter the system. You can also safely sell your contraband in Starfield in The Key in Kryx System.

A Few Tips For Smuggling Contrabands in Starfield

1. Consider investing in the Commerce skill tree if you plan on starting to sell contraband to earn a quick buck. Doing so will increase your yield significantly in the long term.
2. When selling contraband in Starfield, always remember to talk directly to the sales associates in Trade Authority shops rather than simply selecting the ‘Sell’ option in the kiosks.
3. Even after landing safely on a settled planet, having passed the scan, keep your contraband items on your ship. Once you get to a Trade Authority vendor, a separate option will show up, allowing you to sell the goods stored within your ship.