Crossword Genius

One transporting drug in shoe? (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

mule

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'shoe?' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both man-made objects as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps you can see a link between them that I don't see?

'one transporting drug' is the wordplay.
'one' becomes 'me' (a setter might use 'one' to humourously mean 'me').
'transporting' means one lot of letters goes inside another (to transport can mean to carry).
'drug' becomes 'ul' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'me' going around 'ul' is 'MULE'.

'in' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for mule that I've seen before include "Hybrid animal - slipper" , "Offspring of a donkey and a mare" , "Donkey-horse hybrid" , "Obstinate person?" , "Equine hybrid" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.
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