Smuggling cardi/slaves is no longer popular because alot of Outcast indies rob/tax them. Why smuggle for someone who will take half your profit,and shoot you.
My junker used to do it,until an Indie Outcast demanded i drop all my slaves in Alpha. He said why pay,when they can just take them. I know The oficial faction will not do this,but indies there outnumber faction like 5 to 1. So huge risk,when you also get pirated in Liberty,and fined also.