BOGOTA, Colombia - The Colombian government has announced its plans to embark on a scientific expedition to recover valuable objects from the 1708 shipwreck of the San Jose galleon. Considered the "holy grail of shipwrecks," the wreckage is believed to hold a treasure trove worth billions of dollars.

Culture Minister Juan David Correa revealed that the initial attempts to retrieve items from the wreck will take place between April and May. These efforts will be subject to favorable ocean conditions in the Caribbean. Correa emphasized that the mission is primarily focused on advancing underwater archaeological research and preserving historical artifacts.

"This is an archaeological wreck, not a treasure," stated Correa following a meeting with President Gustavo Petro. "This is an opportunity for us to become a country at the forefront of underwater archaeological research."

Although the wreck carries immense archaeological value, it is rumored to contain significant riches, including 11 million gold and silver coins, emeralds, and other precious cargo originating from Spanish-controlled colonies. If successfully recovered, these items could be worth billions of dollars.

Correa further explained that the retrieved material would be transported aboard a navy ship for analysis. The results of this analysis will determine whether a secondary recovery operation will be scheduled.

The San Jose galleon sunk more than 300 years ago during a battle with British ships. It was discovered in 2015 but has remained entangled in legal and diplomatic disputes since then.

In 2018, the Colombian government abandoned previous plans to excavate the wreck due to conflicts with a private firm claiming salvage rights based on a 1980s agreement with the Colombian government.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) expressed concerns regarding the commercial exploitation of the shipwreck. In a letter sent to Colombia, UNESCO urged caution, emphasizing the importance of preserving the wreck for its historical value.

"Allowing the commercial exploitation of Colombia's cultural heritage goes against the best scientific standards and international ethical principles," the letter stated, referring to the UNESCO Underwater Cultural Heritage Convention.

Notably, Colombia has not signed the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which would subject the country to international standards and require it to inform UNESCO of its plans for the shipwreck.

The precise location of the San Jose galleon remains a state secret. The ship sank somewhere in the vast area off Colombia's Baru peninsula, south of Cartagena, in the Caribbean Sea.

The ownership rights to the sunken treasure have been fiercely contested in legal battles involving the United States, Colombia, and Spain. Efforts by an international team of experts, aided by autonomous underwater vehicles, led to the discovery of the wreckage three years ago.

Among the notable findings are well-preserved bronze cannons, ceramic and porcelain vases, as well as personal weapons. Experts assert that the specifications of the cannons leave no doubt about the identity of the wreck as the San Jose galleon.

As Colombia prepares for its scientific expedition, the world eagerly awaits the potential unearthing of this historical and potentially lucrative treasure from the depths of the Caribbean Sea.