Staff at the Buenos Aires hotel where Liam Payne fell to his death are being investigated for supplying hard drugs to the star in the days before the tragedy.
The men are accused of smuggling various narcotics into the singer’s suite at the CasaSur boutique hotel in the exclusive Palermo neighborhood.
A cleaner and another member of staff are said to have hidden the drugs in the Dove soap box that detectives found in Payne, 31,’s room after her death.
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, for analysis.
It is understood that CasaSur management was informed of the unusual behavior of the unnamed men and dismissed a member of staff.
A cleaner and another member of staff are said to have hidden the drugs in the Dove box (above)
The One Direction star fell from a balcony on the third floor of the CasaSur hotel
Police officers are seen standing outside the CasaSur hotel on Wednesday.
It is understood that CasaSur management became aware of the unusual behavior of the unnamed men and dismissed a member of staff.
Detectives also questioned the man about his possible role in Payne’s death.
“There were two guys in the hotel who were giving Liam drugs,” a close friend of Mr Payne revealed.
‘They sent taxis to pick up the packages.
‘One of the boys was working in the cleaning department.
‘After Liam died, they noticed a taxi was sent to the cleaner’s home address.
‘The hotel manager asked him why the taxi had gone to his house and, unable to explain, he was fired.
“The police questioned the cleaner and another member of staff.”
The friend added: “Liam was doing his best to stay clean but as soon as he got to the hotel these people offered him alcohol and drugs.”
Representatives of Hotel CasaSur have so far refused to comment.
Meanwhile, investigators from Argentina’s Ministry of Justice have demanded that a full toxicological examination be carried out before Payne’s body is handed over to his family and repatriated to the UK.
This meticulous procedure could mean that the former One Direction’s remains remain in Argentina for up to 15 days until the full results are known.
An autopsy determined that the musician died from multiple injuries after the fall from the third floor of the hotel.
But the main investigator, prosecutor Marcelo Roma, requested that histopathological, biochemical and toxicological studies be carried out to confirm whether the musician was drugged and intoxicated.
Geoff Payne, Liam’s father, arrived in Buenos Aires last week to formally identify his son’s body and assist in the repatriation of his remains to the UK for burial.