‘The Holy Grail’ Shipwreck Contains $20 Billion Worth of…

Looks like Columbia just hit the jackpot with this absolutely amazing find just beneath the ocean. The government has just declared a national mission to exhume what is being called the “Holy Grail of shipwrecks,” which contains up to 200 tons of gold, silver and emeralds.

The Spanish galleon San Jose sank off the Colombian port of Cartagena after its powder magazines detonated during a skirmish with the British in 1708. On board were treasures worth up to $20 billion in today’s money along with 600 sailors, all but 11 of whom went down with the ship.

Culture minister Juan David Correa has stated that this is one of the priorities for President Gustavo Petro’s administration as they intend to have it recovered before his term ends in 2026.

Spain and Britain were fighting the War of the Spanish Succession at the time when Royal Navy sent San Jose, which was sailing from Portobelo in Panama at the head os a treasure fleet consisting od 14 merchant vessels and three Spanish warships, to sink near Barú.

Images retrieved last year show a part of its bow covered in algae and shellfish, as well as remains of hull frame along with gold ingots ad coins, cannons made in Seville 1655 and an intact Chinese dinner service among other items such as porcelain crockery, pottery and glass bottles.

The wreck, which is lying at nearly 3,100 feets beneath the Caribbean Sea, was discovered by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution 2015 however ownership is disputed by Spain, Colombia and Bolivia’s indigenous Qhara Qhara nation who claim that people belonging their community were forced by Spaniards to mine precious metals so these treasures should belong them according to them.

Moreover US company Glocca Morra claims it had discovered wreck back 1981and handed co-ordinates Colombian government on promise halve cargo value leading them demanding $10 billion compensation from Colombia now.