Silverleaf, if you were to read the rules, you'd discover you cannot touch a smuggler in a transport with your LABC. You'll find you are missing some equipment if you do.
I seriously suggest you try to find the fun in flying smaller ships. You seem to be very focused on owning the biggest/baddest/whatever ship around. You can do far more in a smaller ship like a fighter, and will last far longer in a major furball. Try it.
You'd be able to do something about a smuggler if you were in a bomber with a CD and Supernova.