Crossword Genius

Smuggled in Charlie, New York crack (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

cranny

'crack' is the definition.
(I know that crack can be written as cranny)

'smuggled in charlie new york' is the wordplay.
'smuggled' becomes 'ran' (to run something is to smuggle it).
'in' indicates putting letters inside.
'charlie' becomes 'C' (phonetic alphabet).
'new york' becomes 'ny'.
'c'+'ny'='cny'
'ran' inserted within 'cny' is 'CRANNY'.

(Other definitions for cranny that I've seen before include "corner" , "Crack" , "Small narrow space" , "Small opening or crevice" , "confined space" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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