Comment by benologist

The legal way just isn't lucratively profitable - because then you are just a courier escorting packages through customs and there are many companies that do that. So firstly, you have to pay all the regular taxes that any other importer has to pay, and then you have to go through all of customs' bureaucracy like any other importer has to do.

Travelers won't be able to do this since they won't know the local language, laws and customs, and they won't be licensed importers, and they will be scammed by customs officials in poor countries, and their goods will eventually be forfeited if they don't have enough money to pay the/arbitrary taxes and accrue fees while they decide whether to abandon the merchandise or not.

So yes, the process of importing stuff into many places is shitty and in need of disruption. "Don't get caught, mule" is not that disruption. Customs agents everywhere are united on that and actively looking for people smuggling drugs, animals, produce, electronics, luxury goods and anything else.

Price discrepancies when you factor in transport and taxes are still going to exist and some are going to be opportunities to make small amounts of money, not big amounts.