Border force destroyed parcel when opening it

[Sunhighinthesky1]

A parcel arrived this morning for me from Los Angeles and it had tape (it had been resealed using this tape) on the box saying border force/home office so I knew that it had been opened/searched by border force. They've completely destroyed it though, the box itself is fine but the items inside were all bashed. You could see that they had all been packed carefully and wrapped up (some in bubble wrap as well) and then border force have searched it and then just left it a mess inside. None of the items were still wrapped up or anything when it arrived or anything, one of the items that was wrapped in bubble wrap was broke as well, probably because border force didn't put it back in the bubble wrap after searching it. It was just a mess inside, you could tell that they had taken everything out and unwrapped them to search it and then just dumped it all back inside with no care. AIBU to think border force should have taken more care when opening it, searching it and when packaging it back up?

I'm not sure if it is worth contacting the people who sent me the parcel of if they will just say that any damages from border force are nothing to do with them?

Why on earth would the sender care?

Definitely get I touch with the sender. The package may be insured so they may be able to claim for it. Personally when one of my customers orders don't reach them in perfect condition I replace it every time even if it wasn't my fault. It wasn't the customers fault either and I know if it happened the other way around I would be annoyed at wasting my money and getting nothing in return.

@VeniVidiWeeWee

Do you just come on to threads to be unpleasant?

If I had sent someone a parcel and if it was delivered all smashed I'd be very disappointed, and do my best to replace it, whether it was my fault or not.

You need to contact the courier. They are responsible for ensuring goods arrive safely.
https://www.gov.uk/goods-sent-from-abroad

I had a fragile package opened by customs. It had been packed in bubble wrap, but after taking the bubble wrap off, they didn't bother to re wrap it, just shoved the bubble wrap and the item into the box and sealed it back up. Inevitably it was broken when it arrived.
It was a gift and homemade (and beautiful), so I was gutted, but no comeback at all.

YANBU

It's the seller's responsibility to sort this out. The courier's contract is with the seller, not with you. This is what parcel insurance is for, and the seller needs to claim on the insurance and either refund you or send a replacement.

Use both routes of notifying the sender (for them to refer to the carrier) and by contacting HMRC yourself

https://www.gov.uk/hmrc-internal-manuals/complaints-and-remedy-guidance/crg5600

Note that it’s not always HMRC/Border Staff conducting inspections on arrival, carriers themselves also have a responsibility and an inspection could be by the carriers staff at their import depot

The seller has the contract with the carrier used & this covers the insurance in transit.
The carrier may be responsible on both sides of the border (eg UPS) or a reciprocal agreement in place (eg Royal Mail / Parcel Force handle the UK side)

If a claim is successful from the sender then they subsequently compensate you / send a replacement and the carrier would purse with HMRC themselves etc

Did they find the drugs though?

I’ve had this happen. Art shipped from America. Borderforce (I assume!) didn’t wrap it properly after opening and inspecting, it was subsequently damaged before reaching me. I contacted the sender, she contacted the courier, they contacted me for photos and more information, and then they paid the sender who reimbursed me.

You have nothing to lose by contacting the seller, I'd also raise a complaint with border force as it's unacceptable for them to damage legally imported goods

Yet you care enough to come here and leave such a blunt weird comment?