Journo declares smuggled luggage (9)
I believe the answer is:
haversack
'luggage' is the definition.
(thesaurus)
'journo declares smuggled' is the wordplay.
'journo' becomes 'hack' (I've seen this before).
'declares' becomes 'avers' (averring is a kind of declaring).
'smuggled' indicates putting letters inside.
'hack' placed around 'avers' is 'HAVERSACK'.
(Other definitions for haversack that I've seen before include "Strong bag slung over the shoulder" , "Item of luggage" , "Backpack" , "Carrier" .)