So what exactly are you meant to do with contraband in Starfield? Let's take a look at how you get contraband in the first place, and then what to do with it. Now that Starfield is finally released, many players are now hopping into their spacecraft, surfing the skies, and exploring to their heart's content.
The game begins innocently enough, with the player taking control of a miner working on a dig on some distant moon. But as the story unfolds, and different paths are offered, the temptation to become the greatest space smuggler that ever was is no doubt going to be strong. So there will, of course, come a time in the expansive space exploration when players will find themselves holding onto some particularly hot booty.
To learn more about the game, check out the best Starfield stealth build, plus details on whether the game has dismemberment. We've included these and the rest of our coverage of the game in our Starfield hub!
How to get contraband in Starfield
Being a space pirate is certainly something that most Starfield players are eager to become. What better way to zoom around all of deep space than looting everything in sight and making good money in the process?
So if that's the case, then players will likely find themselves with a decent haul at some point, high galactic law be damned. To put it plainly, contraband is anything you take that isn't rightfully yours. You can steal from other people, be a true pirate, and shoot down other spacecraft to loot their cargo holds, or smuggle various illegal goods from planet to planet.
But what to do once you've secured your loot?
How to hide loot in Starfield
So in order to avoid being caught red-handed, you'll need somewhere to stash your goods. Planets like the United Colonies or Freestar Collective are not places you want to be when you've got contraband on board your ship, as it's totally illegal and could land you in space jail. Subsequently, avoiding these planets is advisable if you want to keep hold of your loot.
However, there is a means to hide your contraband while traversing these areas. But you will need to have shielded cargo on your spacecraft. The shield around this particular cargo hold will hide items from scans, and although this upgrade will set you back some credits, it's worth shelling out for if you're planning on smuggling various black market items to and from planets.
Unfortunately, not every space mechanic will allow you this upgrade, and you'll need to join the Crimson Fleet and pay for it. Of course, you could always steal a ship that has shielded cargo installed, but this isn't a particularly subtle method.
Where can you sell contraband in Starfield?
But if you're looking for somewhere to sell your contraband, then places such as Crimson Fleet or the Trade Authority will welcome your space pirating with open arms. They don't mind the method in which you secured your haul, they just want to pay you credits for it. Who doesn't love a good black market deal?
But there you have it, that's everything you need to know about hiding and selling contraband in Starfield. Be sure to check out our other guides, including the best weapons to use, as well as brushing up on your space combat technique.