Op, I've been in this situation before and mine was even in the UK. I asked a friend to help send some personal stuff from Nigeria and I was asked to pay custom duties for the items by the UK custom office simply because the items (a winter jacket and other stuff) were new. I think that's what is playing out here though my charges weren't as much as yours (about 7k plus). Their definition of personal item means "used" and not "new" . On another occasion, I helped a friend to get a wedding gown for his fiancee and sent it from the UK to Nigeria through FedEx to him and he wasn't charged for customs duty so do a proper enquiry before taking any action.

Cheers.

Finance and romance sure goes together but the sad truth still remains (Girls like broke guys with "sweet mouth" and you just can't understand them)