Colombia blocks treasure hunters from ‘holy grail of shipwrecks’

Spanish galleon San Jose, laden with approximately $20bn worth of treasure, sank more than 300 years ago.

Colombia‘s government is blocking treasure hunters from salvaging what they are calling “the holy grail of shipwrecks”.

The ship, the Spanish galleon known as the San Jose, which sank more than 300 years ago, is said to be worth billions of dollars in gold and precious stones.

But it is unclear who would own the treasure once it is brought on land.

Al Jazeera’s Manuel Rapalo reports from Cartagena.