Ricky Ciano: Former Rebels bikie found dead in car

THE former high-ranking member of the Rebels bikie gang — who disappeared in Sydney’s west on the weekend — has been found dead.

Ricky Ciano has been found dead after being reported missing by family.

THE former high-ranking member of the Rebels bikie gang who disappeared in Sydney’s west on the weekend has been found dead in a luxury car, with homicide detectives now investigating.

Ricky Ciano, a former enforcer in the outlawed motorcycle club’s Sydney chapter, was last seen in Penrith on Saturday night, prompting his wife, family and friends to make a public appeal, fearing he was the latest victim in Sydney’s gangland shootings.

Today, police confirmed Ciano, 35, was found dead in the back of a car at Duckmaloi, near Oberon in the state’s Central Tablelands this evening.

Ricky Ciano was last seen on Saturday evening in Penrith.

Ricky Ciano was found dead inside a car.

It is believed he has been there for a couple of days and police are treating the death as suspicious.

The homicide squad is investigating.

Local police established a crime scene which was subsequently examined by specialist forensic officers.

“Local detectives, with the assistance of the State Crime Command’s homicide squad, are investigating the circumstances surrounding the man’s death,” NSW Police said in a statement today.

Mr Ciano left the Rebels in 2015 on the understanding he could walk free from the club under certain conditions, including he remove his distinctive club tattoos.

However, soon after his departure an attempt was made on his life at his Wamberal home on the Central Coast.

Ricky Ciano, pictured with his dog BooBoo, used to be a member of the Rebels bikie gang.

Another former high-ranking Rebels member, Abuzar Sultani, has previously been charged with conspiring to murder Mr Ciano, with police alleging Sultani — known as “Abs” — was to be paid $500,000 for the botched hit, which involved a fake pizza delivery.

After the murder attempt Mr Ciano moved to the Gold Coast with his family, but a close friend told the Daily Telegraph he would travel down to Sydney most weekends to visit extended family and friends.

“The last his wife heard from him was a text on Saturday saying he had been pulled over by the police in Penrith, something to do with a problem with his licence, and he was leaving his car on the side of the road,” the source said.

“She hasn’t heard from him since … this is so out of character for Ricky.”

He had been reported missing by family on Monday, with last contact made with his wife at about 8.20pm on Saturday.

Ciano was friends with murdered gangland figures Mark Easter and Wally Ahmad.