Dramatic arrest footage has emerged of the two men taken into custody over the alleged kid***ping and m***rder of 85-year-old grandfather Chris Baghsarian.
The men, both aged in their 20s, were arrested in the early hours of Wednesday morning after police descended on two properties in Sydney’s northwest.
It comes hours after police discovered Mr Baghsarian’s body close to Lynwood Golf and Country Club in Pitt Town, near Windsor on Tuesday, ending an 11-day search for the grandfather allegedly kidnapped from his North Ryde home on February 13.
‘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.’
NSW Police have since released footage of heavily armed officers forcing entry into both properties to make the arrests.
One of the handcuffed men suffered an embarrassing wardrobe malfunction when his jeans fell down while being dragged by officers into the back of a police car.
The man was also wearing a fake designer T-shirt emblazoned with the slogan ‘original Gucci’.
The second man was shirtless, barefoot and did not get a chance to get dressed when he was arrested at a separate property.
Both men were taken to Riverstone Police Station, where inquiries continue. No charges have yet been laid.
Police also issued a brief statement on behalf of Mr Baghsarian’s grieving family.
‘We welcome the news of the recent arrests in relation to the kidnapping of our father and grandfather,’ the statement read.
‘As we continue attempting to come to terms with this incident, we ask that media respect our privacy.’
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.
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.
Daily Mail revealed earlier this week that Mr Stepanyan’s parents, who lived just three doors up from Mr Baghsarian, suddenly left their home on the day of the kidnapping.
Neighbours say they returned to the home for a couple of hours on Monday, shortly before they were publicly identified, to pack some belongings before leaving again.
Timeline of Chris Baghsarian’s alleged abduction