Colombia Launches Expedition to Protect $20B San José Shipwreck Treasure

Colombia has launched a deep-water expedition to explore the San José shipwreck, an 18th-century galleon believed to contain $20 billion worth of gold, silver, and emeralds. The ship, which sank in 1708, was discovered in 2015 and is considered the "Holy Grail of Shipwrecks." The Colombian government has invested $45 million in the exploration, aiming to claim the heritage elements of the wreck. The exact location of the ship remains a state secret, with rights to the treasure claimed by Colombia, Spain, and the United States.