Spoils a trap inside the borders (7)
I believe the answer is:
margins
'the borders' is the definition.
('margin' can be a synonym of 'border')
'spoils a trap inside' is the wordplay.
'spoils' becomes 'mars' ('mar' can be a synonym of 'spoil').
'a trap' becomes 'gin' (gin trap is a kind of animal trap).
'inside' indicates putting letters inside.
'mars' placed around 'gin' is 'MARGINS'.
(Another definition for margins that I've seen is " Profits".)
I've seen this clue in The Irish Independent.
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