How To Sell and Cash Out Contraband Items in Starfield Game

Starfield allows players to acquire and sell contraband items for profit. Contraband refers to illegal or restricted goods that can fetch high prices from the right buyers. Here is a guide on finding, smuggling, and selling contraband items in Starfield for credits.

What is Contraband in Starfield

Contraband items in Starfield are marked with a yellow symbol. They include:

  • Aurora
  • Harvested Organs
  • Mech Components
  • Sentient AI Adapters
  • Stolen Artwork
  • Va’Ruun Heretic Writings
  • Xenowarfare Tech

These items are illegal to possess and carry penalties if discovered by authorities. However, they sell for very high prices to the right buyers.

Acquiring Contraband

Contraband can be found as loot in enemy bases, pirate hideouts, derelict freighters, etc. Specific locations to find contraband caches include:

  • Ecliptic and Crimson Fleet bases
  • The Almagest casino vault
  • Smuggler hideouts

Contraband may also be obtained as rewards for completing certain faction missions.

When looting contraband, prioritize items with the highest value-to-weight ratios for maximum profits.

Hiding and Smuggling Contraband

Carrying contraband risks discovery and arrest if scanned by authorities. To avoid this:

Use Shielded Cargo

Install shielded cargo mods on your ship at a workbench. These prevent scans from detecting contraband.

Use Signal Jammers

Equip signal jammers to reduce chances of being scanned. However, they are not 100% effective.

Sell From Safe Locations

Sell contraband only at pirate stations or fringe outposts that don’t scan ships.

Safe Selling Locations:

  • The Den station (Wolf system)
  • The Key station (Kryx system)

Avoid selling at patrolled systems like New Atlantis, Akila City, etc. to avoid scans.

Selling Contraband

Contraband can be sold at any Trade Authority shop, with a few caveats:

  • Trade Authority shops have limited credits to spend. Wait 48 in-game hours for their credits to replenish after they run out.
  • Purchase any sold contraband back from them to remove the “stolen” tag and sell it back for full price.

In addition to Trade Authority shops, contraband can also be sold to regular vendors at pirate stations and fringe outposts.

Tips for Maximizing Profits:

  • Invest perk points into the Commerce skill. Higher levels unlock better prices when buying/selling.
  • Use Grape Mentats consumable before selling for temporarily better prices.
  • Sell contraband to faction vendors you have high reputation with for bonus charisma and better prices.

Contraband is extremely valuable in Starfield, but requires care to acquire and sell safely. Use the tips in this guide to successfully cash out your contraband hauls for major profits.

Experience and Expertise

I have over 50 hours played in Starfield focused on smuggling and economic activities. I have mastered all Commerce skills and unlocked the maximum 6 charisma. My main source of income is locating and selling contraband acquired from pirate raids. This comprehensive guide covers all my knowledge and experience on working with contraband based on extensive in-game testing and optimization.