Quote:Guarding jump gates doesn't usually help much either since they'd most likely use jump holes (and what lawful guards JHs?).
I have to disagree here.
1.) You do have a rather good chance to catch some smugglers around JGs as well. (Of course not the really good ones, but sometimes smugglers are in a hurry or whatever.)
2.) (imho) Lawfuls do know most of the JumpHoles in their main systems (I simply cannot imagine LSF/navy not knowing the existence and location of the CO and TX JHs in NY). This applies only to real house space. They can and should patrol these areas as they see fit, but they would never use the JHs with any [capital] ships because JHs are considered far too hazardous (Ageira marketing).
As for smuggling with my chars:
* Jane.Blond is a smuggler of Junker origin. She flies with a smuggler ID (and Junker tag), but she behaves and considers herself as "normal" = her smuggler ID exist only in police (lawful) computer registries, they are suspicious (with some reason).
Most of the time she is hauling supplies to unlawful bases (Eng.Comps to Mactan, Light Arms to Leiden/Montezuma, Pharmaceuticals to Leon, ...).
Every now and then there is an order for Artifacts or Alien stuff. (Drugs and Slaves are not her stuff)
But ~every 3rd run is a legal business to keep the lawfuls relaxed and to maintain her contacts on lawful bases.
(I consider her being a "opportunity trader". If legal business brings enough then fine, if it isn't legal it doesn't matter. But she does not do the same trade more than 2-3 times, she floats following her instincts and tips picked up here&there.)
* Ike.Brax (QCR, MilitaryID) doesn't care too much of smugglers. It is police stuff, not military. If he scans a ship out of curiosity or boredom then he looks for something evident - full cargo of something strictly forbidden. If the ship hauls 90-95% legalware and only 5-10% contraband he will not notice.
And he is terribly annoyed of the police telling him to drop the pilots he captured in combat and bringing back to his base for interrogation...
I endorse this, smuggling for the money is generally a poor way to spend your time.
Smuggling for entertainment, however, is a good time! Though I've rarely been tempted to allow myself to be captured, rather seemed to be against the point.
But here's some Dusty Lens ticks and tactics for capturing snugglers in Liberty!
1) If I was at the helm, I'd post the LSF at the jump holes, or patrolling the smuggling 'lanes' that exist between one hole and the next. That's where most of your traffic comes through!
2) Knock out the lanes in front of planets! The Manhattan one especially! Not so tricky a task and you can tell lazy bums to cruise to the next one.
3) Report folks as land despite the LSF/SA/LPI telling them to halt! You may not have the ability to turn everything on their hud red the second you spot them 5000 units of cardamine, but send in the Caylith marines with an oorp dock report! Screenshots ar yer friend.
4) Remember the common paths that snugglers take! There are four primary paths into Liberty and if you could out Alaska and the Colorado run you greatly reduce the number of channels worth patrolling to catch the fiends!
Make it harder to smuggle! It's no fun if you just cruise along with a load full of the orange dream and don't have to play clever to escape!
