As I understand it, the actual crossing of the sea isn't the slow part; it's sitting in port waiting on clearance from customs that takes forever.
I can't imagine it's that difficult to bribe somebody to make all the clearance stuff go faster. They need to think of the customers and get it done.
Ah and the penalty if caught, fine 3 times the value of the item or items and or 15 years in jail. Wave 11 and on produced at Leavenworth.