DNA emerges in Vic cold-case murder

Police are close to cracking the 22-year-old unsolved murder of a Melbourne taxi driver after the emergence of new DNA evidence.

Emanuel Sapountzakis was shot and killed and his body dumped in the Dandenong Police Paddocks in 1993.

A 1997 inquest found the 25-year-old was likely the victim of a robbery gone wrong, but police now believe he had become involved with shady characters linked to the drug trade.

"We now believe he was killed by, or on the order of, people he was known to," said Detective Senior Sergeant Boris Buick, from the homicide cold case and missing persons squad.

The investigation was reactivated two years ago after a witness came forward with new information.

Advances in technology allowed a DNA sample from the murder suspect to be lifted.

Police have a description of a car - a maroon-coloured Nissan Skyline with a rego number including "DSD" - which may have been the murderer's get-away vehicle.

"We believe we are close to solving this investigation but just need a little bit more help," Sergeant Buick told reporters on Wednesday.

Mr Sapountzakis was last seen driving into the reserve with a male passenger in the front seat of his cab at about 2am on March 2, 1993.

A dog walker found his body about 8am, and his abandoned taxi was found on the Mountain Highway at Boronia a short time later.

A $50,000 reward is on offer for information leading to a conviction.