Costea told judges he received 90,000 lei (EUR1=RON4.2139) bribe, which he shared with customs workers and other people.
Costea was detained by anticorruption prosecutors Thursday during a raid at the Ploiesti customs office, which targeted local import-export firms and customs workers suspected of bribe taking.
Romanian authorities started massive raids this month targeting customs points throughout the country and nearly 200 border police officers and customs workers have been arrested on charges of corruption and smuggling.