So both Factions have Inspect Civilian Freighter. Feds have investigative diplomacy missions, and KDF have ransacking missions. We all know which side gets the lion's share of contraband. And I feel its really contrived to have to have several KDF alts to farm it.

The KDF pillages, the Federation should police. There should be assignments like "Investigate Suspicious Ferengi Outpost", "Repel local Pirates", "Settle disputes on an Outlying Federation Colony", etc that reward commodities and contraband like the KDF marauding assignments.