In Starfield, the best way to sell contraband is to go to special locations called Trade Authority vendors, but with the risk of getting caught by scans in most star systems. The safest and easiest place to sell contraband without being scanned and caught is The Den space station in the Wolf star system. This station does not scan ships on arrival, allowing you to sell contraband items at the Trade Authority kiosk inside freely. Another good location is The Key space station in the Kryx system after joining the Crimson Fleet, where you also won't get scanned for contraband. When selling contraband:
- Contraband stores are marked with a yellow icon in your inventory.
- You can only sell contraband directly to Trade Authority vendors, not at kiosks.
- Vendors have limited credits, so you might need to wait 48 hours for them to refresh their credits.
- If you get caught with contraband in scanned systems, you'll face fines or jail but can unlock special questlines by being caught.
Key locations for selling contraband:
- The Den (Wolf system): Best early-game safe location.
- The Key (Kryx system): A pirate-friendly station after joining the Crimson Fleet.
- Trade Authority vendors in big hubs like New Atlantis (Jemison) and Cydonia (Mars) but expect risks of scanning.
It's also advisable to avoid traveling to other star systems with contraband to minimize the risk of getting scanned and caught before selling it at safe hubs.
