There are always other ways, if you're willing to pay enough. Several smugglers have routesover, under, or through the walls in certain areas, and border guards are humans, not paragons ... a little kaching will grease the wheels of passage in many situations. There's also the simple fact that, as there are several different countries, and extra-territorial corps, in the mix, each has a unique set of laws, so, you can safely take certain things into certain areas... getting there is the hard part, but if, say, you're waiting in line for the Azzie sector (well, back when it existed) and they find a bunch of drugs and BTLs in your car, they'll ask you if you're looking for recreational use or trafficing, allow you to buy a vending license if the latter, and wave you on your merry way.
Of course, things have changed since Zebulon came around. Things are ... interesting ... right now.