Head sheriff nailing drug smugglers with old textile machines (8,5)

I believe the answer is:

spinning mules

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'old textile machines' is the definition.
I know nothing about this answer so I can't judge whether this works.

'head sheriff nailing drug smugglers' is the wordplay.
'head' indicates taking the first letters.
'nailing' becomes 'pinning' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'drug smugglers' becomes 'mules' (I've seen this in another clue).
The initial letter of 'sheriff' is 's'.
's'+'pinning'+'mules'='SPINNING MULES'

'with' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

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

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