Colombia to Retrieve Treasure Worth $ 20 Billion from Ship that Sank in 1708

Colombia plans to invest around $ 4.5 million to explore the shipwreck this year.

The expedition’s location would be kept a secret to prevent other treasure hunters from reaching the wreck’s site.

As per sources, the ship has gold, silver, and emeralds, with her treasure amounting to $20bn.

When it sank, the ship was laden with treasures accumulated from many Spanish colonies in South America.

The “holy grail of shipwrecks” as it is called, was said to have 100 steel chests filled with emeralds and millions of silver and gold coins.

The ship was launched in 1698 and sank in a war off the Island of Baru south of Cartagena. It was on its way to Spain with wealth meant for King Philip V of Spain and the royal coffers.

Officials say that the expedition was being undertaken more for cultural reasons, to understand how life was for those onboard the vessel before it met its tragic fate.