In Starfield, contrabands are illegal by law enforcement agencies. These items are not just stolen; they are inherently illegal to possess, trade, or sell. Unlike regular stolen items, which become illegal because you've taken them without permission, contraband items are illegal by their very nature.

What to do with contraband? You can sell contraband to vendors like the Trade Authority who will buy these illegal items from you. The best place to sell without getting scanned is The Den space station in the 'Wolf' Star System. However, getting caught comes with fines and potential jail time.

Where to Sell Contraband in Starfield

The reason players smuggle illegal stuff in Starfield is the money you can make from selling it. But not a lot of places will buy these goods from you. There are some vendors that are fine with it. They'll buy your illegal items, and they usually have more cash to give you than other stores.

Trade Authority Vendors

Trade Authority vendors are specialized merchants who are willing to buy contraband items. They are typically found in large hub worlds and space stations across the Starfield universe.

• New Atlantis (Jemison): The Trade Authority office here is located in the underground Well area. To get there, you'll need to take an elevator down from the spaceport area.
• Cydonia (Mars): In Cydonia, the Trade Authority is situated in the main hub area. You'll find it down the ramp and to the right, on the top floor.

These vendors have a limited amount of credits, so you can only sell as much contraband as they can afford. If you find that a vendor is out of credits, you can use the 'Wait' mechanic to wait for 48 hours, allowing the vendor to refresh their credits.

The Den Space Station

The Den is a unique space station located in the 'Wolf' Star System. What makes Den special is that there are no ships surrounding it to scan you upon arrival, making it a safe place for selling contraband.

Once you've docked your ship at The Den, walk forward a bit and turn left. You'll spot a small Trade Authority kiosk where you can sell your contraband without worry.

The Key Space Station

The Key is in Kryx system. To gain access to The Key, you'll need to join the Crimson Fleet. This space station is another excellent place to sell contraband because it's not subject to law enforcement scans.

Besides its own Trade Authority vendor, The Key offers multiple vendors who are willing to buy your contraband. This makes it a versatile option for players who frequently deal with illegal goods.

Where to Find Contrabands

Finding contraband in Starfield can be a thrilling yet risky venture. Knowing where to look for these illegal items can save you time and potentially keep you out of trouble. Here are some of the locations where you can find contraband in the game.

Here are some examples of contraband items you might encounter in Starfield:

• Aurora: A mysterious substance with unknown properties.
• Harvested Organs: Organs that have been illegally harvested, often for black market trade.
• Mech Components: Parts of machinery that are restricted or controlled.
• Sentient AI Adapters: Technology that enables artificial intelligence to achieve sentience, which is illegal in many jurisdictions.
• Stolen Artwork: Art pieces that have been unlawfully acquired.
• Va'Ruun Heretic Writings: Religious or philosophical texts that are banned in certain areas.
• Xenowarfare Tech: Advanced technology designed for warfare against alien species.

Neon

Neon is a hotspot for contraband because of its lax law enforcement and the presence of vendors willing to deal with illegal goods. Neon is a location situated on Volii Alpha in the Volii star system. It's known for its vibrant nightlife and shady dealings. One of the most common contraband items you can find here is Aurora. To get Aurora, head to the Euphoria Vendor in the Ebbside area. The vendor behind the bar sells Aurora for 670 Credits.

Prisons

Prisons in Starfield are high-security facilities where criminals are held. They are also potential gold mines for contraband items. While not all prisons contain contraband, some have at least one contraband item stored somewhere. Va'Ruun Heretic Writings are commonly found in prison cells. To find contraband in prisons, you'll need to search the cells thoroughly. Be cautious, as this can attract unwanted attention from guards.

Confiscated Goods Containers

If you ever get caught with contraband and end up in prison, your confiscated items will be stored in these containers. Once you're released from prison, you can retrieve your contraband from these containers, although this is risky and could lead to further imprisonment.

How to Smuggle Contraband

Smuggling contraband in Starfield is a high-risk, high-reward endeavor. If you're planning to engage in this illicit activity, it's crucial to know how to minimize the risks involved. Below are the steps and strategies you can employ to smuggle contraband more effectively.

1. Install a Shielded Cargo Hold

A Shielded Cargo Hold is a specialized compartment in your ship designed to hide contraband from scans. While it doesn't guarantee that your contraband won't be detected, it significantly decreases the odds of getting caught during a scan. You can purchase a Shielded Cargo Hold from Lon Anderssen at the Red Mile on Porrima III. The cost is around 72,000 Credits.

2. Install a Scan Jammer

A Scan Jammer is a device that can be installed on your ship to interfere with scanning mechanisms. Installing a Scan Jammer further reduces the chances of your contraband being detected during scans. It's advisable to install both a Shielded Cargo Hold and a Scan Jammer for maximum security.

3. Rank Up the 'Deception' Skill

The 'Deception' skill is a character skill that makes you more adept at activities like smuggling. Ranking up this skill is optional but highly recommended if you're regularly dealing with contraband. It provides an additional layer of security against getting caught.

Once you have a Shielded Cargo Hold, you can store all your contraband in your ship's storage to hide it from scans. Even with these precautions, there's no 100% guarantee that you won't get caught. Always weigh the risks before deciding to smuggle contraband. It's also possible to acquire Shielded Cargo Holds by hijacking Crimson Fleet ships. This is a riskier but cheaper alternative to buying one.

What Happens If You Get Caught

In the game Starfield, carrying illegal items is not allowed in certain areas. If you go to a planet in the UC, a security ship will come and scan you. If they find illegal stuff, you could get arrested or end up in a fight. You'll also get a bounty on your head. If you get caught, you'll be taken to the nearest police station, fined, and put in jail. This will cost you experience points and you'll lose your illegal items. Since these items can be worth a lot of money, you really don't want to get caught.

If you get caught, you have three choices:

• Choose to pay the fine: you'll go to jail, and lose any illegal stuff and stolen items you're carrying.
• Agree to go quietly: lose experience, time will pass in the game, and your companions won't like this.
• Refuse to be taken alive: You'll get a big fine. It's really tough to fight off the police ships that come after you and it is not worth it.

When you get caught, all your contraband items will be taken away from you. Law enforcement will seize these illegal goods, and you will be fined. The amount is depending on the type and quantity of contraband you were carrying. If you can't pay the fine, it will accumulate as a debt, affecting your credit score in the game.

If you're a repeat offender or if the contraband is of a particularly severe nature, you could be arrested. This leads to a short stint in jail, where you'll have to serve time. While in jail, you won't be able to complete quests or engage in any other activities.

Getting caught with contraband can also harm your reputation with various factions and characters in the game. This could make it more challenging to complete certain quests or obtain specific items later on.

Once you've been caught, you'll be on the radar for future scans. Law enforcement will be more likely to scan your ship in subsequent encounters, making it even more challenging to smuggle contraband in the future.