Charm a smuggler with last place in boat (6)
I believe the answer is:
amulet
'charm' is the definition.
(amulet is a kind of charm)
'a smuggler with last place in boat' is the wordplay.
'smuggler' becomes 'mule'.
'with' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'last place in' says to take the final letters.
The last letter of 'boat' is 't'.
'a'+'mule'+'t'='AMULET'
(Other definitions for amulet that I've seen before include "Jewel to protect from witchcraft" , "Ornament worn as a charm against evil" , "Mascot" , "Protective jewellery" , "Lucky charm, talisman" .)