Hotel Worker Accused of Supplying Drugs to Liam Payne Surrenders to Authorities in Argentina

A hotel employee accused of delivering narcotics to former One Direction member Liam Payne has surrendered to authorities in Argentina. The surrender comes days after the individual was charged in connection with Payne's tragic death in Buenos Aires.

Prosecutors confirmed to TMZ that 21-year-old Ezequiel David Pereyra turned himself in on Monday evening, reportedly arranging his surrender through his legal representative. Following this arrangement, law enforcement officers apprehended Pereyra at his residence.

The charges against Pereyra allege that he supplied Payne with drugs shortly before the singer’s fatal fall from the balcony of his third-floor suite at the CasaSur Palermo Hotel on January 3. Payne’s death has been linked to the effects of the substances he consumed.

Authorities had been actively searching for Pereyra since the charges were filed. According to the Argentinian publication La Nacion, police executed a raid on Pereyra’s home and monitored several other locations, including his reported workplace. The heightened pressure from law enforcement is believed to have influenced Pereyra’s decision to surrender.

Surveillance footage obtained by TMZ shows Payne briefly visiting the hotel basement, where he is seen interacting with Pereyra in what appeared to be a cordial exchange. The meeting occurred just three hours before Payne’s fatal incident.

Pereyra, who worked as a bellboy at the hotel, has not yet entered a plea or made any public statements regarding the allegations. His legal proceedings are expected to shed further light on the events leading to Payne's untimely death.

The investigation into Payne's passing remains ongoing as authorities seek to determine the full circumstances surrounding the case.