Hidden Gold: 23 Treasure Sites in LA and Only One Found

While police in Louisiana routinely fight many different variables that bring crime to our state, there's one battle they'll never win.

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And that battle? According to experts, it's simply Louisiana's location that makes our state a prime candidate for all types of nefarious activity.

Within the confines of our state are both I-10 and I-20, two of the largest east/west routes in the nation.  Also within, or near Louisiana are the north/south routes of I-49, I-30 and I-40. Louisiana's location makes it attractive to drug smugglers, human trafficking, all sorts of criminals, who are able to use the vast interstate system in the area to navigate in any direction to other parts of the country.

What many don't realize is that location is the very same reason that made Louisiana an easy mark, long before roadways ever existed.

During those early days, Louisiana's abundant waterways were the attraction for criminals. Sitting on the Gulf Coast and offering massive river systems like the Mississippi and Red River, criminals could move through the Bayou State relatively undetected.

READ MORE: Is There Buried Treasure Hidden Near Downtown Shreveport?

And one of those criminals that took advantage of Louisiana's expansive waterways was probably one of the most infamous pirates of all time.

He is none other than Jean Lafitte.  Born in 1780 in France, Wikipedia says of Lafitte:

"He was a French pirate and privateer who operated in the Gulf of Mexico in the early 19th century.  By 1805, Lafitte was operating a warehouse in New Orleans to help distribute the goods smuggled by his brother Pierre Lafitte.  The Lafittes moved their operations to an island in Barataria Bay, Louisiana. By 1810, their new port had become very successful; the Lafittes had a profitable smuggling operation and also started to engage in piracy."

It's Lafitte's Millions That's Lured Hundreds Of Treasure Hunters To Louisiana

According to pelicanstateofmind.com, Lafitte's piracy led to stories of buried treasure and more specifically, the Mystery of the Unfound Treasure.  "....believed by some to have buried a large cache of treasure somewhere in the bayous of Louisiana. Other variations of the mystery say Lafitte buried the treasure in multiple locations along the Gulf Coast."

Lafitte's treasure isn't the only one still waiting for someone to find it.

Legends Suggest There Are Nearly Two Dozen Treasures Still Buried In Louisiana

The website treasureseekr.com says there are a total of 23 locations around Louisiana holding various buried treasures.

Of those sites, only one treasure has been found.  That was the Jefferson Island Treasure with three treasure chests filled with an untold worth.

But the fact that, indeed one treasure has been found, could give creedence to the other possible locations, and one of those is less than 90 miles from Shreveport.

Just take a look at these Lost Treasures Of Louisiana