Crossword Genius

Damn old box carrying drug (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

execrate

'damn' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'old box carrying drug' is the wordplay.
'old' becomes 'ex' (prefix meaning former or onetime).
'box' becomes 'crate' (crate is a kind of box).
'carrying' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other) (in a down clue, the bottom letters carry others).
'drug' becomes 'e' (E is another name for ecstasy).
'crate' after 'e' is 'ecrate'.
'ex'+'ecrate'='EXECRATE'

(Other definitions for execrate that I've seen before include "Harshly criticise" , "Curse" , "Inveigh against" , "Utter curses with erect axe" , "'Abhor, find repugnant (8)'" .)

I've seen this clue in The Hindu.
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