A SUSPECTED drug offender fell to his death after climbing from the window of a 10th-floor flat in a bid to evade arrest.

The 48-year-old locked himself in the unit and refused to open the door when officers arrived, according to the Chinese evening paper Shin Min Daily News. He was then seen climbing out of one of the windows before falling. Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene.

The incident happened at around 9.30am on Tuesday during a joint operation between the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) and the police.

Officers identified themselves when they arrived at the flat in Lengkok Bahru, said a spokesman for the CNB.

However, they did not receive a reply.

The spokesman added: "Officers who were stationed at the ground floor saw a male subject climbing out of one of the windows. He fell from height."

The police have classified the case as an unnatural death.

Shin Min Daily News said the man lived at the flat with his parents and younger brother, but was home alone at the time.

Police dogs were reportedly present at the scene, and were seen sniffing around the rubbish dump near the block.

JALELAH ABU BAKER