How about instead of increasing the costs and risks of smuggling, we increased the costs and risks of regular/industrial commodities? That way regular trader would have a greater profit and greater need of escort/collaboration, miner would still be miners, and smugglers would remain those that dare to make a quick but risky cash.
I don't mean all the regular commodities, but it feels weird to be able to buy consumer goods, or engine components, for a penny, and get a dollar in return, while others are hitting rocks for 300 or 900 dollars a piece.