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Happy to strip drug-smuggling cheats, getting nervy (2,11)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

on tenterhooks

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'happy to strip drug-smuggling' is the definition.
I know nothing about this answer so I can't judge whether this works.

'cheats getting nervy' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
'cheats' could be 'hooks' (hooking is a kind of cheating) and 'hooks' is present in the answer.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for on tenterhooks that I've seen before include "In great suspense" , "In agitated suspense" , "In impatient suspense" , "Nervously expectant" , "Keyed up in anticipation" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.
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