A company in Nasushiobara, Tochigi Prefecture, has lost 500 grams of potassium cyanide, police said.

The industrial plating company, Tanaka Plating Co, reported the loss to police on Thursday, Fuji TV reported. According to police, the potassium cyanide was being stored in a plastic container.

A company spokesperson told police that 15 containers of the colorless crystalline compound, similar in appearance to sugar, are stored in a locked storehouse on its premises. The loss was discovered after a stock check on Jan 31 revealed that one of the containers was missing, Fuji reported.

Police say the potassium cyanide stored in the missing container is enough to kill 2,500 people.

The company spokesperson said that the key to the storehouse is kept in an office, but added that access to the office is not restricted, Fuji TV reported.