Island in secret exploit (5)

I believe the answer is:

crete

'island' is the definition.
(Crete is an example)

'in secret exploit' is the wordplay.
'in' indicates the answer is hidden within the clue.
'CRETE' is hidden within 'secret exploit'.

(Other definitions for crete that I've seen before include "Herakleion its big port" , "Large island in Med" , "Large Mediterranean island" , "Island Germans took, 1941" , "European location" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.

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