Sydney murder linked to Melb underworld

Sydney police have linked the murder of a convicted drug dealer four years ago to a Melbourne organised crime figure.

Saso Ristevski, 37, was shot dead at point blank range outside his parents' home in Lake Heights after a confrontation with three men in September 2011.

Police believe his murder was likely the catalyst for a number of other organised crime-related incidents in the Illawarra, including the murders of two other drug dealers.

Detective Chief Inspector Dave Laidlaw on Thursday said while the initial investigation had centred on people of Balkan background, it had now expanded to people of Pacific Islander and Caucasian appearance.

"We also have information that there are links to an organised crime figure from Melbourne," he said in a statement.

"That includes links between the firearm used to shoot Mr Ristevski, which we believe was sourced in the Illawarra region, and a firearm seized by police in Victoria later that year."

Police are also appealing for information about a silver VS Holden Commodore captured on CCTV footage on the night of Ristevski's murder.

A month after his death, the burnt out car of 35-year-old Goran Nikolovski was found at Macquarie Pass.

Detectives believe Nikolovski, a known associate of Ristevski, was murdered but have never found a body.

Both killings are thought to be linked to that of Darko Janceski, who was shot dead in front of his Berkeley home in April 2012.