You asked about the process, not how to apply your previous experiences and current skills to your current job prospects.
Most people like leaders and those who can think on their feet and do not need a lot of help completing tasks. I would not put "smuggler" on a job application or resume, but think about the skills you used. You said yourself you were in a leadership position, so you have leadership skills and know how to manage people. You may also consider that you're skilled in the acquisition of difficult to obtain products and have a certain amount of discretion as I can't imagine as a smuggler you'd want to advertise what you're smuggler or for whom. Are you also a problem solver? Detail oriented? Are you friendly? Good with people? Good customer service skills? Think about everything you used in your previous job or jobs as well as your own skills and go from there. Make a list if you need to.
Once you do all that, look at what's out there. Grab all the applications you can and start submitting until something bites. Go to places you may want to work at and ask if they're hiring. You could start at simple places like restaurants or stores or clubs and go from there as well. I imagine as a former smuggler you may have decent people and customer skills, so you could look at something in the service industry, at least to start. A restaurant, perhaps, or a coffee shop.