Slain mobster Pasquale Barbaro’s car may have been 'bugged'

Enemies of slain mafia figure Pasquale Barbaro could have bugged his car so they could track him down and kill him.

Barbaro was shot by two hooded hitmen outside the home of underworld figure George Alex in southwest Sydney on Monday night.

Investigators are trying to figure out if a tracking device was planted in his Mercedes, so the hitmen could catch him when he let his guard down, The Daily Telegraph has reported.

NSW Police raided Mr Alex's house on Tuesday night, but there are no links to him being involved in the 35-year-old’s death.

Officers are reportedly focusing on a theory a rival criminal gang may have used the recent gangland war in Sydney's west as a cover for killing Barbaro.

There are reports the slain underworld figure was an informant, but a woman connected to him told reporters: “All I’m going to say is he’s not a police informer".

RELATED LINKS

• Crime figure found dead lying in pool of blood may have "broken mafia code"

• Slain mafia man Pasquale Barbaro "wore bulletproof vest" and owed $1 million

However, many social media users have claimed it was a known fact that Barbaro was an informant.

One post read: "He bragged about [being an informant] all the time. He thought he was untouchable. It was common knowledge around town".

"He was the biggest dog in NSW," another wrote.

"Barbaro was apparently shooting his mouth and taking credit for deals he was not responsible for," a source told reporters.

The underworld figure was out on $300,000 bail for charges of manufacturing 2 kilograms of the drug ice five years ago, according to the Daily Telegraph.

It is also believed he had been called to give evidence before the New South Wales Crime Commission after becoming a high-ranking informant, according to The Daily Mail.

Police reportedly believe he may have been targeted in the same way his grandfather was 26 years ago.

Peter Pasquale Barbaro, his grandson's namesake, was due to give evidence against 30 mafia figures but was ambushed outside his home near Brisbane.

Since the younger Barbaro's death, it has been revealed he had apparently recently ripped off $1 million from another criminal gang.

It is also believed the mafia man wore a bulletproof vest as he walked the streets in fear, and drove a string of luxury cars including a $2 million black Lamborghini.

Top news stories - November 17