Mike Purcell

Colombia, Spain, American financiers, South American indigenous groups, everyone wants a say in what should happen to the San Jose.

This is Juan Manuel Santos.

This is Juan Manuel Santos.

This is Juan Manuel Santos.

He was the president of Colombia from 2010 to 2018, the one who shook Mike Purcell's hand after they found the San Jose in 2015.

He was the president of Colombia from 2010 to 2018, the one who shook Mike Purcell's hand after they found the San Jose in 2015.

He was the president of Colombia from 2010 to 2018, the one who shook Mike Purcell's hand after they found the San Jose in 2015.

He could see the legal fights coming. But President Juan, he was pretty confident that Colombia would win those fights. Because for years, people had been beating down his door trying to work with the government to search Colombia's waters for the San Jose. Finally, one group got through, the group that Mike Purcell was working with. And they made a deal to work together and find it.

He could see the legal fights coming. But President Juan, he was pretty confident that Colombia would win those fights. Because for years, people had been beating down his door trying to work with the government to search Colombia's waters for the San Jose. Finally, one group got through, the group that Mike Purcell was working with. And they made a deal to work together and find it.

He could see the legal fights coming. But President Juan, he was pretty confident that Colombia would win those fights. Because for years, people had been beating down his door trying to work with the government to search Colombia's waters for the San Jose. Finally, one group got through, the group that Mike Purcell was working with. And they made a deal to work together and find it.

And then they could figure out what to do with whatever profits.

And then they could figure out what to do with whatever profits.

And then they could figure out what to do with whatever profits.

Okay. So you're already doing all these machinations in your head.

Okay. So you're already doing all these machinations in your head.

Okay. So you're already doing all these machinations in your head.

And finders keepers is a legitimate legal argument. It's called the law of fines. If someone finds a shipwreck or cargo, they have the rights to it.

And finders keepers is a legitimate legal argument. It's called the law of fines. If someone finds a shipwreck or cargo, they have the rights to it.

And finders keepers is a legitimate legal argument. It's called the law of fines. If someone finds a shipwreck or cargo, they have the rights to it.

Now, the law of finds mostly applies to ships found in international waters. This ship was in Colombia's territorial waters. And according to the UN's Convention on the Law of the Sea, countries have some jurisdiction over a certain area off their shores and over the removal of archaeological and historical objects found in there.