Police arrested 22 suspected foreign criminals yesterday in an operation to extradite people wanted for crimes abroad.

Among those arrested by officers from the Metropolitan Police's extradition unit were a 24-year-old man from Norwood wanted for robbery in Poland and a 42-year-old Columbian man from Clapham suspected of drug trafficking in USA.

A 63-year-old Polish man from Clapham was arrested on suspicion of fraud in Poland, a 29-year-old Polish man from Battersea was arrested on suspicion of kidnap in France and another Polish man was arrested in Chiswick suspected of ABH.

There were 10 teams of officers involved in the operation yesterday which began at 6am.

Detective Superintendent Nigel Mawer, Head of the Economic and Specialist Crime Directorate, including the extradition unit said: "Yesterday was an extremely successful day in making London a safer city. The extradition unit arrested nearly 300 people last year and 170 suspects were successfully removed from this country. The officers are out nearly every day of the year arresting alleged criminals wanted in foreign countries.

"They may try to hide within their migrant communities and it can be a challenge to find them, but we are here today to let them know there is no place to hide in London."

Of those arrested 19 appeared before City of Westminster Magistrates' Court, the last four are due to appear before magistrates today.