The Central Bureau of Investigation is sending a team of officials to Argentina to pursue the extradition of Bofors case accused Ottavio Quattrocchi, an Italian national who was detained there early in February.

The investigating agency, which is racing against time to send a formal request for Quattrocchi's extradition in view of the 30-day deadline, will dispatch its officers to Argentina as and when required, CBI sources said.

The extradition request will be routed through the Ministry of External Affairs, which in turn will forward it to Argentina with which India does not have an extradition treaty.

Meanwhile, CBI Director Vijay Shankar dismissed suggestions that there had been a delay in announcing the detention of Quattrocchi on Friday, 17 days after it had taken place.