The two men arrested for the alleged kidnapping of Sydney grandfather Chris Baghsarian have been pictured for the first time.
Gerard Andrews, 29, and Daniel Stevens, 24, were arrested in the early hours of Wednesday morning after police swarmed two properties in Sydney’s northwest.
It’s understood investigators are still looking for the leader of the alleged kidnappers.
NSW Police have released footage of heavily-armed officers forcing entry into two properties in Kenthurst and Castle Hill.
One of the men, 29, suffered an embarrassing wardrobe malfunction when his jeans fell down to his ankles while he was dragged into the back of a police car.
The man was also wearing a fake designer T-shirt with the slogan ‘original Gucci’.
The second man, 24, was shirtless and barefoot when he was arrested at a property in nearby Castle Hill.
The arrests came just hours after police discovered Mr Baghsarian’s body close to Lynwood Golf and Country Club at Pitt Town, near Windsor on Tuesday.
It marked the end of an 11-day search for the grandfather, who was allegedly kidnapped from his North Ryde home on February 13.
Gerard Andrews and Daniel Stevens (above) were arrested for the alleged kidnapping of Chris Baghsarian
Gerard Andrews above) and Daniel Stevens were arrested on Wednesday
One man suffered an unfortunate slip during his arrest at Kenthurst on Wednesday
The man’s jeans fell to his ankles as he was dragged by officers to a waiting police car
The second man arrested in Castle Hill was taken to the police station shirtless and barefoot
Early inquiries established that Mr Baghsarian was not the intended target of the alleged kidnapping and had been taken in a case of mistaken identity.
‘Following extensive inquiries, about 6.30am today (Wednesday 25 February 2026), strike force detectives – with assistance from Raptor Squad – executed two search warrants in Kenthurst and Castle Hill,’ NSW Police confirmed in a statement.
‘At the Kenthurst address, police arrested a 29-year-old man. In Castle Hill, police arrested a 24-year-old man.’
Both men were taken to Riverstone Police Station, where inquiries continue. They are expected to be charged over the alleged kidnapping and murder.
Detectives continue to search the Kenthurst and Castle Hill properties, along with a third property in Lake Macquarie, in the NSW Hunter region.
A Toyota Corolla has been towed from the sprawling Kenthurst property worth an estimated $4.7million, along with several bags of evidence taken from Castle Hill.
Two electronic devices were allegedly seized from the Lake Macquarie address.
‘I want to assure you that our work is not done and we will continue to find out and identify those that were involved,’ Detective Acting Superintendent Andrew Marks told a press conference on Wednesday.
The body of alleged kidnapping victim Chris Baghsarian was found on Tuesday
The body of Mr Baghsarian was found around 40km away from his home where he was taken
The man arrested at Kenthurst was taken away in a police vehicle
Two men are in custody at Riverstone Police Station, where they are assisting detectives with inquiries in relation to the alleged kidnapping of Sydney grandfather Chris Baghsarian
He added that police will allege that the two men arrested were in the North Ryde area on the morning of the alleged abduction and were known to police for ‘insignificant matters’.
‘We will allege in court that these men participated in a joint criminal enterprise to kidnap Mr Baghsarian and ultimately where he was held hostage, where he came to his death – and they will be charged with his murder,’ Det Supt Marks said.
‘I can tell you at the search warrants at Kenthurst and Castle Hill, detectives seized electronic devices, clothing and other items, that we will suggest link to the kidnapping and murder of Mr Baghsarian.
‘We’re still investigating in relation to what their knowledge was and what their involvement was in relation to the alleged kidnapping and in relation to any other persons involved.’
Police suspect at least two other people were also involved in the alleged abduction.
‘We know that there’s others involved, although we celebrate small wins, we know there’s a lot more work to go,’ Det Supt Marks said.
He described the investigation as one of the worst cases he’s ever worked on.
‘The fact that an innocent man was taken from his home is not acceptable, these people need to be held to account for that, and that’s why we are bringing these people before the courts, and we hope that it doesn’t happen again,’ he said.
Relatives of Dimitri Stepanyan (pictured with his sister Katiusha) are understood to have been the intended targets of the kidnapping
Floral tributes were seen outside Chris Baghsarian’s home in North Ryde on Wednesday
The grandfather’s body was found near Lynwood Golf and Country Club in Pitt Town
Mr Baghsarian’s grieving family released a statement following the arrests.
‘We welcome the news of the recent arrests in relation to the kidnapping of our father and grandfather,’ they said.
‘As we continue attempting to come to terms with this incident, we ask that media respect our privacy.’
Floral tributes, handwritten notes and a pair of shoes were seen at the doorstep of Mr Baghsarian’s North Ryde home on Wednesday.
NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon earlier praised detectives for their relentless efforts in finding the grandfather, despite the tragic outcome.
‘Their priority was obviously to have Mr Baghsarian returned to his family safe. Tragically, that’s not the case, but they have been committed to putting those responsible before the courts,’ he told 2GB.
Commissioner Lanyon added that the two men arrested were ‘assisting police’.
‘Significant investigations have been ongoing. There has been a multi-faceted approach – our main thing was to try to have Mr Baghsarian returned to his family safely – that was the key priority for investigators,’ he said.
‘To do that, they have left no stone unturned.’
It comes as major underworld figures have pledged to kill the ‘fools’ responsible for the alleged kidnap and murder.
The alleged intended target of the kidnapping was one-time criminal Dimitri Stepanyan, a Sydney businessman and associate of the Alameddine crime family.
