Probe into Liam Payne's tragic death intensifies with three under investigation in Argentina

The probe into the tragic death of One Direction's Liam Payne continues as his body has been returned to the UK.

The beloved musician died after falling from a balcony at his hotel in Argentina on October 16, aged just 31. Now, three people are reportedly under investigation over his passing; two employees from Buenos Aires' CasaSur Palermo Hotel and a friend of Payne's.

The Argentinian daily newspaper Clarin saids that one of Liam’s friends, who was last spotted in the hotel's lobby with him, is facing scrutiny for allegedly "abandoning" the singer, reports The Mirror.

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It was not immediately clear last night if the trio said to have been placed under investigation, but not yet charged, have been formally questioned as suspects.

It comes after a total of nine raids on properties are said to have taken place. Outlet La Nacion reports that sources involved in the investigation say eight of the nine homes raided are related to the three people being investigated. It also claims one man has been charged with abandonment, and says investigators had called him on the mobile phone numbers provided by the hotel managers on the day of Liam's death, but he never appeared.

Early on police hunting the singer's "drug dealer" were said to be focusing on hotel staff. Unconfirmed claims said a Dove soap packet also pictured in leaked photos had been used to smuggle drugs into his hotel room.

In one of only two official statements since Liam's October 16 death investigators linked the tragedy to a substance-induced 'psychotic episode' they said they believed he suffered, saying there didn't appear to be any 'third-party' involvement in his balcony plunge.

News site Infobae has previously reported forensic experts had discovered traces of cocaine in Liam's body but tests on a white powder pictured in leaked photos showing the inside of his hotel suite after his death had so far proved "inconclusive."

Liam's father Geoff flew back to the UK yesterday with his son's body to prepare for his funeral after nearly three weeks in Argentina. The singer's body returned to the UK this week in preparation for his funeral, with dad Geoff arriving back with Liam's body on Thursday morning.

Fans who were aware of the plane's departure tracked the flight all the way to the UK and so many fans kept an eye on the flight that it meant it became the most tracked aircraft in the world.

It is believed a service will be held in Liam's hometown of Wolverhampton later this week. However, it has not yet been confirmed.

The service will be an opportunity for his family, friends, and millions of fans a moment to say goodbye to him. Currently, it is not known if Liam's former One Direction band mates will be in attendance.

A source told MailOnline: "Liam will have a very big send-off, quite probably at a large cathedral somewhere close to his heart. Liam was so loved by so many people, there will obviously be enormous demand and so the service will necessarily be a huge affair." As details of his funeral emerged, social media users urged others to stay away and let his family grieve in privacy.