Liam Payne: Casa Sur hotel cleaners accused of supplying One Direction star drugs before balcony death
Two workers at the hotel where Liam Payne fell to his death are being investigated for supplying the star with drugs in the days leading up to the tragedy.
The men are accused of smuggling them into the singer’s suite at the Casa Sur Hotel in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
A cleaner and another member of staff are said to have hidden the drugs in a Dove soap box which detectives found in 31-year-old Payne’s room following his death last Wednesday.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.White powder, crystals, tablets and other paraphernalia were discovered in the third-floor suite.
Police have sent the chemicals – believed to be cocaine and crack cocaine – for analysis.
Management at Casa Sur, in the upmarket district of Palermo, is understood to have been made aware of the unusual behaviour of the unnamed men and dismissed one member of staff.
Detectives have also questioned them about their possible role in Payne’s death.
“There were two guys at the hotel that were giving Liam drugs,” a close friend of Mr Payne has revealed.
“They sent taxis out to collect packages for him. One of the guys was working in the cleaning department.
“After Liam died, they noticed that one taxi was sent to the cleaner’s home address.
“The hotel manager asked him why the taxi had gone to his home and when he couldn’t give an explanation he was fired.
“The cleaner and another member of staff have been interviewed by the police.”
The friend added: “Liam was doing everything to stay clean but as soon as he got to the hotel these people were offering him alcohol and drugs.”
Representatives of the Casa Sur Hotel have so far declined to comment.
Meanwhile, investigators at Argentina’s Ministry of Justice have demanded a full toxicology examination before the body of the One Direction star is released to his family and repatriated.
It could mean it remains in Argentina for up to 15 days until the full results are known.
A post-mortem examination found the musician died from multiple injuries after falling from a hotel balcony.
Lead investigator Prosecutor Marcelo Roma has called for histopathological, biochemical and toxicological studies to be carried out to confirm whether the musician was drugged and intoxicated.
Payne’s father, Geoff, arrived in Buenos Aires last week to formally identify his son’s body.
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