Former Missouri valedictorian busted with massive stash of ‘poppers’ in Argentina

A former Missouri high school valedictorian has been büst£d with a massive stash of “poppers” in his suitcase after arriving in Argentina, in what officials say could be the country’s largest seizure of the substance in recent years.

Braiden John Wilson, 27, was arrested by Argentine customs officers at Ezeiza Airport in Buenos Aires on September 13, 2024, after officers found around half a gallon of butyl nitrate in his luggage.

According to court documents, the substance was contained in 55 vials carrying brands including Rush, Gold Rush and Jungle Juice.

Wilson reportedly told authorities that he used the substance socially and had no intention of selling or smüggl!ng it, explaining that he did not hide the vials because they could be purchased in stores and online.

He also had five iPhones and $1,201 in cash on him, which officials seized.

Sources told The New York Post that most of the 76 similar seizures recorded by Argentine customs over the previous two years involved just one to five vials.

Wilson was charged with attempted smüggl!ng of drüg contraband and faced a possible three-year suspended prison sentence if convicted at trial.

However, he later reached a probation deal requiring him to donate $1,200 to a public children’s hospital in Buenos Aires and pay $300 in reparations.

The former Bismarck High School valedictorian reportedly struggled to meet the payment, paying only $400 initially before reaching another agreement allowing him to use the cash seized at the time of his arrest.

Wilson also had a previous brush with the law. In 2017, he was accused of st£@l!ng more than $2,000 through fraudulent returns while working at JCPenney in Missouri.

He pleaded guilty to misdemeanor th£ft in 2018 and received a suspended jail sentence and probation.