Argentine police conducted a raid on the Buenos Aires hotel where former One Direction star Liam Payne died after falling from his third-floor balcony, a police source told AFP on Wednesday.
The raid at Casa Sur Hotel, led by the special investigations and technology divisions, aimed to gather evidence for the ongoing investigation into the 31-year-old British singer’s death. Payne had been found dead after hotel staff called emergency services twice, reporting a guest “overwhelmed by drugs and alcohol” was “destroying” a hotel room.
The pop star, who had publicly discussed his struggles with substance abuse, died following an apparent substance-related episode. Preliminary reports suggested Payne had a cocktail of drugs in his system, including “pink cocaine”—a mix of methamphetamine, ketamine, and MDMA, according to US media outlets. However, the Argentine prosecutor’s office stated they had not released any official toxicology reports.
Investigators are examining digital devices, security footage, and witness testimonies to reconstruct the events leading to Payne’s death. Initial post-mortem results confirmed that Payne was alone at the time of his fall.
One Direction, one of the highest-grossing live acts in the world, has been on hiatus since 2016, during which Payne pursued a successful solo career.