The discovery of the San Jose shipwreck has all the elements of a great drama: international political intrigue, a treasure of gold and emeralds worth up to $17 billion, and now, accusations of lies and treachery.

The Colombian government announced in early December that they had found the San Jose, an 18th-century Spanish galleon that may be the most valuable shipwreck ever discovered. A U.S.-based salvage company, Sea Search Armada, immediately staked a claim, saying they had found the ship and registered its location in 1982. Now, Colombia has offered to allow the company to verify whether the San Jose is where the company said it was 33 years ago.

But Sea Search Armada (SSA) officials think the offer is a