Drug crime in China has soared over the past five years, according to the latest figures from the Supreme People's Court.

Between 2012 and last year, courts handled 541,000 cases related to drugs, of which 535,000 were concluded, the data show.

Some 543,000 defendants were punished, including 119,000 who were sentenced to prison terms of five years or longer.

Ye Xiaoying, chief judge of the top court's No 5 Criminal Tribunal, said the number of drug cases represents a significant increase on five years ago.

Drug crime accounted for 10.5 percent of all cases heard by courts nationwide last year, compared with 7.7 percent in 2012, she said.

"Courts strictly punish anyone who produces, sells or buys drugs," Ye said. "However, courts will show leniency to those who commit a crime for the first time under the orders of another person."