The best place to sell contraband in Starfield is The Den , a space station located in the Wolf system , which lies just east of Sol and northeast of Alpha Centauri. This location is ideal because you won't be scanned for contraband upon arrival, unlike in most United Colonies or Freestar Collective systems where ship scans are routine. At The Den, you can dock your ship, enter the station, and sell your contraband to the Trade Authority vendor located just to the left past the entryway

. Key points about selling contraband at The Den:

• No ship scan occurs on arrival, so you won't get caught.
• The Trade Authority vendor there starts with 11,000 credits, allowing you to sell a significant amount at once.
• You can reset the vendor's credits by waiting (or sleeping) for 48 hours in total, which refreshes their available funds

• Selling contraband at other Trade Authority shops is possible but riskier due to mandatory ship scans in most systems

• Another good location to sell contraband without scanning is The Key space station in the Kryx system, home to the Crimson Fleet, but it is farther away and less convenient early in the game

For smuggling contraband safely, The Den is the recommended go-to spot to avoid fines or confiscation. When you accumulate contraband items (marked with a yellow symbol), head there promptly to sell without risk

. In summary:

• Where to sell contraband? The Den space station in the Wolf system.
• Why? No ship scanning on arrival, safe and easy selling.
• How? Dock at The Den, find the Trade Authority vendor inside, and sell your contraband.
• Tips: Use the wait mechanic to refresh vendor credits and invest in Commerce skills to get better prices

This makes The Den the safest and most efficient hub for selling contraband in Starfield.