A man in his 60s has stored 350 grams of potassium cyanide in his garage in Gothenburg. The potassium cyanide was stored completely open in a plastic bottle on a shelf.

The man is sentenced to 40 daily fines for environmental crimes when, according to the prosecutor, he either intentionally or negligently stored a substance that could be dangerous to people, animals and the environment.

Deadly poison

The danger of potassium cyanide is when ingested. The lethal effect occurs when the potassium cyanide reaches the stomach. There it is converted to hydrogen cyanide or hydrochloric acid, which is extremely toxic. It is sufficient for 0.15-0.3 grams for a lethal dose.

The substance is used in laboratories and goldsmiths can be purchased from certain chemical companies, but is difficult to obtain in Sweden.

In total, the man must pay SEK 5,200 in daily fines. The prosecutor adds that the man voluntarily told about the can and helped the police find it.

Classic murder poison

Potassium cyanide or cyanide potassium is most commonly known as a classic murder poison in the decks. Many suicides known throughout history have been committed with the help of cyanide.

Hitler's mistress Eva Braun and propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels used the poison at the end of the Second World War.

In 2017, convicted war exterminator Slobodan Praljak took his life during an ongoing court hearing at the UN War Crimes Tribunal in The Hague. Praljak died after drinking the poison.