My aunt and uncle have emigrated to Altinkum, Turkey. They took very little out with them in their suitcases and left various family members with other little bits to take out on their obilgitory visits. I've just completed my trip with a bag of stuff, but there is one extra thing my aunt would like sending out there in the post. I promised I'd try and look into it for them.

The item in question is best described as a fancy dress Indian outfit I guess, but it is a hand-made quality outfit made of leather and cost a lot to make when new -several hundred pounds. It's second-hand now anyway, so I plan on being a bit economical with the truth and declaring the customs duty to be much less than it is were I to ask someone to make a brand new one tomorrow.

I know what the duty free limit is for imports into the UK - about £18, but have no idea what the limit is for exports to Turkey. I can wrap it as a gift if need be in wrapping paper as a present (which it is anyway), but I don't want my aunt and uncle to have a knock on the door from the local Turkish postman demanding several hundred Lira in dubious customs fees. The parcel will probably be at or very near the 2Kg limit, so is bound to attract attention one way or another. Has anyone any experience of sending out parcels and packets to friends and relatives out in Turkey? Is it relatively painless, or is it not worth the aggro? Presumably, the less value I put on the customs form, the less it will attract in duty. Does anyone know what this might be before I pack it up and send it out?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Michael