Buying cicada carcasses for millions of dong
Over the past few days, Facebook groups have continuously posted information related to the purchase of cicada corpses. Each post has different purchasing prices from 600 thousand VND/kg to several million VND/kg.
Based on a phone number on the post, the reporter directly contacted Ms. LS (Dak Ha district, Kon Tum) – a trader who buys cicada carcasses at high prices. She said, Dak Ha district is considered the coffee capital of Kon Tum province. According to their behavior, ticks often grow and develop well under coffee trees. That’s why traders often come to Dak Ha to search for cicada corpses.
Ms. LS added: “Currently preparing for summer, cicada nymphs crawl from the ground to the coffee tree to replace their bodies. Therefore, cicada corpses hanging on coffee trees are easy to find. In one afternoon, 1-2kg of tick carcasses can be collected. I am buying tick carcasses for 700,000 VND/kg. If I collect 5kg, the price is 800,000 VND/kg. After purchasing, they sell it to Chinese traders to make medicine. They have been purchasing for a long time, now the quantity is almost enough so they need the goods urgently.”
Ms. LS also promised that those who have goods they want to sell just need to give them their phone number and address and she will come to their home to buy them. Besides Ms. LS, there are many other traders who are also looking to buy cicada carcasses with prices ranging from 700,000 VND/kg or up to 1.6 million VND/kg.
Ms. D.H – a trader who buys cicada carcasses in Ngoc Hoi district – shared that there are 2 types of cicadas, 1 type of thin body with bright red color, 1 type of thicker body with darker color. Thin carcasses usually cost less than thick carcasses.
This trader also affirmed: “Cicada carcasses, also known as turtle boats, have many uses. Every year Chinese traders buy it, but this year the price is higher. The price of tick carcasses also ranges from 800 – 1 million VND/kg.”
In order to have goods to sell abroad, many traders in Kon Tum do not hesitate to buy from 1 tael to several quintals, with no limit to the quantity.
Be wary of fraudulent tricks
Mr. Nguyen Thanh Nghi – Chief of Office of Ngoc Hoi District People’s Committee – said that the district has received information about traders in the area purchasing cicada carcasses. “District leaders have directed communes to check and review the situation of traders purchasing cicada carcasses. The district also asked communes to find out the cause of this situation. Motives and purposes of traders in purchasing cicada carcasses. Based on reports from communes and districts, there will be specific directions and recommendations,” Mr. Nghi added.
Mr. Dao Tuan – Chairman of Dak Su Commune People’s Committee (Ngoc Hoi District) – added that because this is not a banned item, after inspection, the Commune People’s Committee only reminded purchasing households to be wary of these tricks. scam section. At the same time, the commune has also propagated people to be wary of traders’ tricks of inflating the prices of agricultural products.
According to physician To Manh Cuong – Chairman of the Oriental Medicine Association of Kon Tum province, cicada carcasses, also known as boat turtles, meditation corpses, meditation tax… are used in traditional medicine as a common medicine. Cicada carcasses are mainly used to treat a number of diseases such as epilepsy, fever, cough, loss of voice, otitis media…
“Cicada carcasses have been used as oriental medicine for a long time but are not commonly used. However, because cicada carcasses are very light, collecting 1kg of carcasses takes a lot of effort,” Mr. Cuong emphasized.
