Newcomer / Intro Illicit cargo

[Tyres O'Flaherty]

Picked up a couple of supply and return missions - advanced meds and combat stabilisers. Grabbed them, hit the jump back and got the "illicit cargo" message. I thought "let's do this thing anyway as I need some black markets established for an engineer". I was also supposed to be intercepted by hostiles.

When I got to the station requiring the goods - no interdictions! - I was fully expecting a fine and a slap. I got a scan and... nada. Landed, handed in the commodities and duly grabbed credits. When I checked both systems and stations, neither prohibited either of the commodities I was carrying. My return station, as it turns out, doesn't have a black market anyway.

I don't understand why I got the "illicit cargo" message. Can someone enlighten me, please?

 

[Rock Hunter]

I believe that illicit means that some factions within a system may be willing to fine or shoot at you whilst others (or the controlling faction) don’t care about that cargo. So, if you land at a station that find your cargo problematic you may be in trouble but if you land at a station in that system that’s controlled by another group who don’t mind trade in those goods you’ll be ok.

Citation needed is the popular phrase I need to add here.

 

[aRJay]

Yes systems are controlled by many factions, usually, if when preparing to jump to a system you get an illicit cargo message that indicates that the controlling faction doesn't approve of the goods however stations in the system under the control of a different faction can be fine about them. If the warning appears, or fails to disappear, when approaching your destination station then that indicates that it is time to engage smuggle mode as they will fine you.

 

[Bob Lighthouse]

What system/station?

One of the goods was probably illegal to the controlling faction of the system or station.

 

[Codger]

Seems to me you get the illicit message when the cargo is illegal at any station or base in the system. At least that’s been my observation.

 

[Rock Hunter]

I had cargo marked as illicit on Thursday evening as I hit my hyperdrive, came into system with the warning above my fuel gauge and started planning my approach so I'd come out of SC between the orbital station and the planet, checked my heatsinks were setup for my primary trigger only to find as I approached my 'illicit cargo' warning disappeared. I had my eyes trained just above the fuel gauge and my finger on the fire button the whole way into the station in case it changed. Nope, they clearly weren't too fussed about what I was carrying.

Then this morning I got lazy, had the same illicit cargo warning but, needing the coffee I'd just put on, I left the DC to fly me in. The first I knew of any issue was seeing I had anonymous access and a small(ish) fine to pay.

I had only worried (or at least been prepared and eagle eyed) about seeing the illegal cargo warning come up but now I'll be a bit more wary of the illicit warning too, but at least you don't get shot at.

 

[d8veh]

In case you don't know, once you get the illicit cargo message, you goal is to avoid being scanned. If a pirate interdicts you and you decde to fight him, the police will most likely turn up and scan you, which will get you a massive fine. In your case, the cargo wasn't illicit, but if it is, you have to use tactics to get in the station without getting scanned.

It's the same with illegal passengers, except if you get scanned, you become wanted, so death often follows shortly after.

 

[Tyres O'Flaherty]

The thing is I did get a scan but they said they found nothing and I could carry on. Empire scum I'll be glad to get my Clipper so I can away from Grand Moff Tarkin's clutches

Got promoted to Master last night so there is a little progress occurring

And it happened again. System is Kadrusa . The cargo is seemingly illicit but there is no black market here.

 

[aRJay]

I had cargo marked as illicit on Thursday evening as I hit my hyperdrive, came into system with the warning above my fuel gauge and started planning my approach so I'd come out of SC between the orbital station and the planet, checked my heatsinks were setup for my primary trigger only to find as I approached my 'illicit cargo' warning disappeared. I had my eyes trained just above the fuel gauge and my finger on the fire button the whole way into the station in case it changed. Nope, they clearly weren't too fussed about what I was carrying.

Then this morning I got lazy, had the same illicit cargo warning but, needing the coffee I'd just put on, I left the DC to fly me in. The first I knew of any issue was seeing I had anonymous access and a small(ish) fine to pay.

I had only worried (or at least been prepared and eagle eyed) about seeing the illegal cargo warning come up but now I'll be a bit more wary of the illicit warning too, but at least you don't get shot at.

You can bind a button/key to launch Heat Sinks without using up one of your triggers just as you can with Chaff.

 

[ArchAngelofDeath]

Not positive here but I believe what's illicit in a system is dictated by the faction that controls the system - hence the "illicit" in red on your HUD.
But the station you land at might not be controlled by the system controlling faction and therefore you pass inside with no fines etc.

 

[Tyres O'Flaherty]

How can you see if something is illicit to any given faction?

 

[Rock Hunter]

You can bind a button/key to launch Heat Sinks without using up one of your triggers just as you can with Chaff.

Yeah, I've got all sorts bound to my X55 throttle which includes heat sinks but they were literally the only thing I could fire off, I didn't even have a basic system scanner, so they were bound to my primary fire group and that seemed easier whilst trying to line up for docking at speed in an shieldless Anaconda than reaching for a toggle switch on my throttle.

There are so many things in that sentence that show how ill prepared I was to discover I was carrying illicit goods.

 

[Rock Hunter]

How can you see if something is illicit to any given faction?

I'm also curious. EDDB can tell you, like the GalMap, what the controlling faction considers Prohibited.

Illicit/illegal....gets a little confusing to me.

 

[UmbraRex]

How can you see if something is illicit to any given faction?

system map, second tab if memory serves

don't remember if you have to have a specific port selected or not

 

[Limoncello Lizard]

system map, second tab if memory serves

don't remember if you have to have a specific port selected or not

You need the station selected, as legality is specific to stations.

@Tires, the easiest way to find blackmarkets, is to filter for democracies and confederacies. The Fed ones are the best for smuggling, as they make anything fun illegal.

 

[Sapyx]

System is Kadrusa...

Every station in the Kadrusa system is entirely and 100% controlled by an Imperial Dictatorship. In Imperial Dictatorships, Combat Stabilizers are legal. So anywhere in the Kadrusa system, you should not be getting the "Illicit Cargo" message.

However, if you are traversing through another star system (one under Imperial Corporate control, perhaps) on your way to and from Kadrusa, then that star system's laws will apply to you while you are in that system. Combat Stabilizers are not legal in any Imperial government except Dictatorships and Anarchies.