The Extortionist
An early Skier quest on Customs: a messenger's cargo is hidden in a locked cabin, and the key to it is on the messenger's body. Everything happens in one stretch of the map — garages to the crane yard.
Quick answer: loot the Unknown key off the dead Scav in the bush behind the garages near the RUAF roadblock, then open the cabin at the crane yard (north of the old gas station) and take Secure Folder 0048 from under the jacket on the floor.
Objectives & rewards
| Objective | Where |
|---|---|
| Obtain the hidden valuable cargo | Locked cabin, crane yard — Customs |
| (Optional) Find the messenger's body | Bush behind the garages — Customs |
| (Optional) Find where the messenger hid the cargo | The same cabin |
| Hand over the cargo | Skier |
| Reward | Value |
|---|---|
| EXP | +3,000 |
| Reputation | Skier +0.1 |
| Money | 450 Euros (472 / 518 with Intelligence Center L1/L2) |
Step by step
- 1Find the dead Scav (the messenger)
Head to the eastern side of the river, past the "Welcome to Tarkov" truck near the RUAF roadblock. The body is hidden in a bush just behind the garages — go prone to loot it safely. Looting it also completes the optional objective.
- 2Take the Unknown key
The key is a guaranteed spawn on that body every raid — but it isn't player-specific, so anyone can beat you to it or dump it out of spite. If it's gone, it also drops from jackets, drawers and Scav pockets.
- 3Move to the crane yard
Keep heading east through the construction site until you're level with the old gas station. Just north is an open yard with a blue crane and a locked cabin next to it — expect AI and players, use cover.
- 4Grab Secure Folder 0048
Unlock the cabin with the Unknown key; the folder is under a jacket on the floor.
- 5Extract and hand it to Skier
The folder goes in your quest inventory — if you die, you re-loot it next raid. Turning it in finishes the quest.
Practical tips
| Tip | Why |
|---|---|
| Loot the key first, always | One key per raid across all players — grab it before someone else does or stashes it |
| Hit the cabin late in the raid | It's a known quest hotspot; late raids have fewer campers and less AI pressure |
| Prone while looting the body | The bush hides you — standing looting is how people die to the roadblock lane |
| Key gone? Don't reset instantly | Jackets and drawers across Customs can still cough it up; otherwise re-raid |
Watch for key dumping: some players take the Unknown key just to deny it to others. If the body is looted, check jackets in the dorms area or simply re-queue — the respawn is guaranteed next raid.
FAQ
Where is the cabin in The Extortionist?
At the crane yard on Customs — in line with the old gas station, then north into the open yard with the blue crane. The locked cabin sits next to it.
The Unknown key wasn't on the body — now what?
Another player took it (it's one per raid, shared). It can also spawn in jackets, drawers and Scav pockets, or just load into a fresh raid where the body resets.
Do I have to survive to finish The Extortionist?
You must extract with Secure Folder 0048 for it to count — die and you re-loot it. The optional body/hiding-place objectives don't need extracting to check off.
What level do I need for this quest?
PMC level 7, after finishing Skier's Supplier quest.