Figure running import business is the one refusing to comply with the State's customs (8)
I believe the answer is:
smuggler
'figure running' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both people as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps you can see an association between them that I don't see?
'import business is the one refusing to comply with the state's customs' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'import' could be 'smuggle' (smuggling is a kind of importing) and 'smuggle' is located in the answer.
A single letter 'r' remains which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for smuggler that I've seen before include "Transporter of illegal goods" , "One who imports or exports without paying duties" , "Importer of goods without paying duties" , "Criminal" , "Exciseman's foe" .)