The Contraband Workbench repacks Contraband Cargo into more valuable cargo for sale. Research it for $20,000 under Furnishings in Larry’s Tree, buy it separately through the Trade Laptop, and install it at your base. It is a different workstation from the Cargo Workbench that opens ordinary compatible shipments.
Unlock and install the Contraband Workbench
The listed bench purchase is another $20,000 after research. Check the current purchase offer before paying, and budget for both the unlock and the actual workstation. You also need a base with a free station position.
- Open Shipments and find the Contraband Workbench under Larry’s Furnishings.
- Complete its research.
- Buy the physical workbench through the Black Market laptop.
- At your house’s wall blueprint, open Modification.
- Put the bench into an available station slot.
If it will not install, check the building’s station space before assuming the purchase failed. An owned bench still needs a suitable position in your base.
Repack the correct cargo
Obtain raw Contraband Cargo from a seller such as those at Lenny’s Motel or the Sales Center. Bring it home and put it in the Contraband Workbench’s cargo slot, then let the repacking process finish.
The result can be Premium Cargo, which is sold to a Smuggler. Do not treat the finished cargo’s listed value as guaranteed profit: your stock purchase and the buyer’s actual offer still matter.
Use the station’s displayed processing timer. Do not plan around a universal batch duration, because the current setup and upgrades must be checked at the bench you are using.
Understand the bench slots and upgrades
The workbench starts with one cargo slot, two speed-up sockets, and one extra-space socket. Label Printers are the speed upgrades, while Tool Boxes improve capacity. These are different functions, so choose the upgrade that addresses your current bottleneck.
If you are still learning the business, complete a batch before committing more money to upgrades. Compare what you paid for stock with what you actually receive at the Smuggler rather than relying on the tooltip alone.
Ordinary crates are not automatically Contraband Cargo. If the bench rejects a shipment, inspect its full name. The ordinary Cargo Workbench and the Contraband Workbench perform different jobs, and buying an upgrade does not turn one station into the other.