how to sell contraband starfield

In Starfield , “contraband” is just a game mechanic for illegal items, and learning how to sell contraband is a normal in‑game activity, not real‑world crime.

Basic idea

• You can only sell contraband to Trade Authority vendors, not the yellow kiosks near spaceports.

• If system security detects contraband during a scan, you can be fined, arrested, or have the items confiscated in‑game.

Where to sell contraband

• Trade Authority shops in cities : Look for the bright yellow Trade Authority offices in major settlements; talk to the human vendor inside to sell, not the outside kiosks.

• The Den (Wolf system) : This space station doesn’t scan ships when you arrive, so you can dock there safely with contraband and sell it at the Trade Authority vendor right inside.

• Other stations with Trade Authority vendors also buy contraband as long as you reach them without being caught.

Avoiding scans and getting there

• Keep contraband in your ship’s cargo hold , not on your character, or scans are almost guaranteed to find it.

• Upgrading your ship with shielded cargo and related smuggling upgrades (like the Deception skill) reduces the chance of scans detecting contraband, though there’s always some risk.

• Early on, many players just avoid scanned systems and head straight to unscanned stations like The Den until they can afford better smuggling gear.

Extra tips for profit

• Trade Authority vendors can run out of credits; you can wait 24 in‑game hours (sit in a chair and pass time) to refresh their credit pool and keep selling.

• Sort your inventory by value so you can quickly find the contraband items that are worth the most credits to sell first.

All of this applies strictly inside Starfield as a video game system; trying to deal in real contraband outside the game is illegal and dangerous, and you should never attempt it in real life.