LIAM Payne was plied with drugs supplied by a hotel worker just 24 hours after being told he was clean, cops believe.
Argentine investigators suspect the drugs found in the tragic One Direction star’s Buenos Aires hotel room were sourced in a poverty-stricken neighbourhood 15 miles away.
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An address in the city of Lomas de Zamora is said to match up with a man suspected of being involved in supplying the substance, sources say.
Police are investigating two hotel staff in connection with the deals including a cleaner at the CasaSur boutique hotel.
It is believed they hid the drugs in a Dove Soap box which can be seen in pictures inside Liam’s room.
A pal of Liam’s last night told The Sun the star had been given the all-clear on a drugs test last Tuesday – the day before he plunged 45ft to his death from his third-floor balcony at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel.
The pop star had “tried really hard to get clean”, the pal claimed before being “preyed upon” by the hotel workers.
They said dad-of-one Liam had entered Argentina on September 30 with the aim of renewing his American visa.
They claim that when Liam spoke to US embassy officials, they queried his previous stints in rehab and said he needed to take a drug test to prove he was clean to have his renewal approved.
They added: “The embassy said Liam needed to do a strict investigation including X-rays and a blood test to search for traces of drugs.
He was examined by a US Embassy-certified doctor and last Tuesday collected his results, which showed he was clean, the friend said.
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“He collected his results on Tuesday and they showed he was clean.
“On the weekend at his friend’s ranch, he was completely sober.
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“When he checked in at the hotel, at some point someone there started giving him drugs.”
A source alleged hotel staff had started selling Liam drugs at some point in the time he checked in at 11pm last Sunday.
They said they did not know what drugs Liam was buying or how much he had spent on them.
However reports from US media have suggested he was under the influence of Cristal, a hallucinogenic substance which causes psychotic episodes.
Police suspect Liam suffered an episode while high and drunk.
It has been reported that multiple staff members were set to be fired over allegedly supplying drugs to Liam.
The insider said: “Liam had tried really hard to get clean, then he’s been preyed upon.
“These people just care about money – they don’t care about putting people’s lives in danger.
“It’s an evil trade. This is all just tragic.”
Guests saw him behaving erratically in the hotel lobby moments before he died at 5.07pm, with reports of him smashing up his laptop.
He spent some of his final hours at the hotel with two local blonde women, who The Sun on Sunday yesterday revealed are Aldana Serrano, 27, and Lucila Goitea, 31.
He was also said to have been seen arguing with a woman over payment.
During his time in Argentina, Liam watched his old 1D bandmate Niall Horan perform and spent time playing polo at a ranch with pals and his girlfriend Kate Cassidy, 25.
Among Liam’s group was his Argentinian friend Roger Nores, who was seen with him at the hotel and who accused staff of supplying drugs to the singer.
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A source close to Roger said he last saw Liam for ten minutes on Wednesday, and that he left the hotel at 3.30pm.
The insider said: “Roger told him, ‘I’ve got to run’ and Liam said, ‘Go do your own thing’. That was the last thing they said to each other.”
“Roger is upset – at one point on Wednesday he was phoned by a hotel manager who said they had found Liam asleep on the floor of the elevator.
“They moved him to the sofa in the hotel lobby but the manager said he couldn’t stay there, and that he needed to go to his room.
“In the emergency call, they said they were worried Liam’s life was in danger because he was in a room with a balcony.
“Why didn’t they just let him stay sleeping in the lobby if they were worried about this?”
A pal of Roger told us: “Liam’s behaviour hadn’t been off at all – he was happy.
It is understood Roger has spoken to police and the District Attorney, and that he is in touch with Liam’s dad Geoff.
Meanwhile, Liam’s old performing arts teacher Jodie Richards revealed she was in touch with him just hours before he died.
Jodie, who taught Liam at Pink Productions in his home town of Wolverhampton, West Mids, said: “I spoke to him about five hours before it happened so from my point of view I am really shocked.
“There was no cause of concern – he was having a chilled-out morning so I’m not sure what happened.
“It was about 4am our time [when Liam messaged] saying ‘are you still up?’.
“I messaged him when I was up and taking the kids to school to say ‘I’m up now’.
“I said, ‘What are you doing?’ and he said, ‘I’m just chilling’ and he said [he was in] Argentina.
“I said, ‘That sounds good’ and that was the last time I spoke to him.
Hours after he had gone through all of that.”
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Health struggles
Liam often spoke about the dark side of fame, revealing how the constant media attention and pressure from being in the spotlight took a significant toll on his mental health.
One of the more painful admissions from Liam’s interview was his battle with alcohol, which began during his time with the band.
As One Direction skyrocketed to fame, the group members were often confined to hotel rooms, where mini-bars were their only outlet.
“The best way to secure us was to lock us in our rooms, and what is in the room? A mini-bar,” the ex-1D band member told the podcast.
“So I had a party-for-one that seemed to carry on for many years of my life.”
Liam was brutally honest about his health issues in recent years.
His journey through fame came with its costs as he disclosed that he had suffered from social anxiety and struggled to maintain his mental well-being while under immense pressure.
Despite the joyful moments of his meteoric rise to fame, Liam’s struggles with mental health, addiction, and the weight of his stardom were a constant undercurrent.
He had been working on his sobriety in recent years, candidly discussing his difficult relationship with alcohol.
He admitted that he spent time in a US wellness clinic after he “hit rock bottom”.
He also told how a mystery respiratory illness left him floored in 2021.
Liam admitted turning to alcohol and drugs to hide how he struggled to cope with One Direction’s dizzying levels of fame — which would spark panic attacks and high levels of exhaustion.
Tributes to Liam Payne
SHOCKED fans, former co-workers, loved ones and friends flooded social media with sad tributes to Liam Payne after news of his death emerged.
Harry Styles’ mum Anne was among the first from One Direction’s camp to share her reaction, posting a photo of Liam and writing ‘Just a boy…’ alongside a broken heart emoji.
Britain’s Got Talent judge Amanda Holden shared an image of the pair together with the words: “Such an awful tragedy.
“Sending love to his family and all those who loved him.”
X Factor star Olly Murs told fans he was “devastated” and “lost for words”.
He wrote on social media: “Liam shared the same passions as me, the same dreams so to see his life now end so young hits hard, I’m truly gutted and devastated for his Family and of course his son Bear losing a dad x”.
Liam Gallagher said he was “very sad” and told his followers on X: “Life is precious Kids, you only get to do it once, go easy.”
Former X Factor presenter Dermot O’Leary has also expressed his shock and spoke on This Morning.
He said: “I remember him as a 14 year old turning up to audition on The X Factor, and blowing us away singing Sinatra. He just loved to sing.
“He was always a joy, had time for everyone, polite, grateful, and was always humble.”
BBC Radio 2 presenter Zoe Ball reacted to the “devastating news” on her show and told fans she hugged her own son Woody tight this morning.
JLS band member Marvin Humes reflected on his memories with the singer, sharing: “I first met Liam in 2008 with the JLS boys whilst auditioning for X Factor..he was 14 years old..
“We instantly clicked and looked at him as a little brother..that year it worked out for us but not for him and then 2 years later he went back to audition and One Direction was born..the rest is history..
“Absolutely heartbroken by the tragic news..Liam you wanted to be a global superstar and you did it bro..just can’t believe that things have ended this way..it’s shocking..my thoughts and prayers are with all your family and friends brother..RIP.”
Niall Horan’s brother Greg shared an emotional tribute to Liam, praising him as a “top young man”.
He added: “You will be forever missed. Liam, words can’t describe how much I want to grab my brother and mind him now while the world shows their memories of you and him and the boys.
“My heart goes out to your family parents and sisters and your son Bear and your 1D brothers.
“10th October we met and we started out that evening as 5 families into one big one 1D family thank you for all the laughs bro watch down on all your family and mind them lots of love kiddo x x x 1D 4 LIFE x x x”
German DJ Anton Zaslavski, otherwise known as Zedd, has taken to X with a devastated statement.
The producer, who worked with Liam on his 2017 hit Get Low, wrote: “RIP Liam… I can’t believe this is real…absolutely heartbreaking…”
American singer, Charlie Puth, who was friends with Liam and also collaborated with him on a song called Bedroom Floor, has posted a series of Instagram stories dedicated to him.
Alongside photos of the two of them together in their younger days, Charlie wrote: “I am in shock right now. Liam was always so kind to me.
“He was one of the first major artists I got to work with. I can not believe he is gone…
“I am so upset right now, may he rest in peace. I am so sorry…”
Irish singer duo Jedward also took to social media, saying: “RIP Liam Payne. Condolences to friends and family.”
In another tweet, they added: “Sending strength to Cheryl and his son Bear. And all the One direction Family. RIP Liam Payne.”
American media personality Paris Hilton shared: “So upsetting to hear the news of Liam Payne passing. Sending love and condolences to his family & loved ones. RIP my friend.”
ITV weather presenter Alex Beresford shared a news video about Liam’s tragic death on Instagram, adding: “Can’t believe this! RIP Liam.”
Meanwhile Love Island star Molly Marsh penned: “I’m so taken aback, rest in peace.”
James Cordon also paid his own tribute, describing the star as a “loving and kind soul”.
The Gavin and Stacey actor wrote on Instagram: “Talking about Liam in the past tense is utterly heart-breaking.
“I will treasure the moments I got to spend with him. My thoughts are with his family today x.”
Payne previously appeared on Cordon’s The Late Late Show in America.
Former Little Mix star Jade Thirwall – who won X Factor with her bandmates one year after One Direction took part – described him as “the first friend I made in this industry”.
She said: “We fell out of touch as the years went by, but back in 2008 he was the first friend I made in this industry.
“Both of us so young, so ambitious, both hoping we’d ‘make it’. I hope you are at peace now”.
Camila Cabello described his death as a “tragedy” and said he “made an impression” on her when she was a young girl.