Colombia looks to recover billions in treasure from ‘holy grail of shipwrecks’

But critics say the raising of the San Jose, sunk in battle with British ships in 1708, might damage the country's cultural heritage

The Colombian government has announced that it will attempt to raise objects from the 1708 shipwreck of the galleon San Jose, which is believed to contain a cargo worth billions of dollars.

The 300-year-old wreck, often called the holy grail of shipwrecks", has been controversial, because it is both an archaeological and economic treasure.