Why would DPR hire a smuggler?

Why would DPR delete the photo evidence, but not the chat log evidence?

Are there transactions in the blockchain that represent the payment? Can we find them?

Is this part of the story something that can feasibly be made up after the fact?

Was SR a voluntary exchange with no victims, and for DPR to do real time, would some charge like this have had to have been found?

Edit: I'm not necessarily saying I believe he's innocent, but this part of the story seems so strange to me that I really think these questions are worth asking.