Chinese courts will pass stricter sentences for a range of drug-related offenses "as the drug problem spreads more rapidly and drug offenses occur more frequently", Ma Yan, a senior Supreme People's Court judge, said on Thursday.

According to the court, 137,198 people were punished for drug-related crimes last year, up 25 percent year-on-year.

A judicial review from the top court called for the tougher sentences and added 12 new types of drugs, including methcathinone and tramadol, to the list of controlled substances.