Colombia's government has officially announced an expedition aimed at extracting valuable items from the wreck of the famed San Jose galleon, which sank in 1708 off the coast and is believed to hold treasures worth billions of dollars. The 316-year-old wreck, often referred to as the "holy grail" of shipwrecks, is set to be explored using an underwater robot in an operation that will cost more than $4.5 million. The robot will work at a depth of 600 meters to carefully retrieve items such as ceramics, pieces of wood, and shells without causing harm to the wreck.

The location of the secret expedition is being closely guarded to prevent unauthorized access to what is considered one of the most significant archaeological discoveries in history. The San Jose galleon, once owned by the Spanish crown, was laden with gold, silver, emeralds, and other treasures when it was sunk by the British navy near Cartagena. The disagreement over who should have custody of the treasures has led to a symposium involving Spain, Bolivia's Indigenous people, and Colombian officials to discuss the best way to access the trove.

The leftist government of President Gustavo Petro is keen on using the country's resources to recover the wreck and ensure it remains in Colombia. A pending case at the UN's Permanent Court of Arbitration between Colombia and the U.S.-based salvage company Sea Search Armada, which claims to have discovered the wreck over 40 years ago and is demanding $10 billion dollars, adds further complexity to the situation. Recent advances, such as a remotely operated vehicle revealing new images of the wreckage at a depth of 900 meters, hint at the potential riches still waiting to be uncovered.