A BOLTON mother has returned home from visiting her daughter in a tough US detention centre, where she is being held on suspicion of drug smuggling.

Cheryl Barlow’s daughter, Louise Marsden, was arrested in October after £50,000 of cocaine was allegedly found in her luggage at New York’s JFK Airport.

Ms Barlow, aged 40, from Heaton, travelled to America with her son, Anthony, aged 20, after an anonymous businessman came forward to fund their trip.

They were able to speak to Louise, aged 22, for two hours at the Metropolitan Detention Centre in Brooklyn.

Speaking about their emotional reunion, Ms Barlow said: “Louise came through the door dressed in her uniform and smiled at us, but then I knew she was going to start crying.

“She grabbed hold of Anthony and hugged him as she was sobbing and then grabbed hold of me.

“It was nerve-wracking. We were allowed to hug and kiss her, but saying goodbye went very quickly — they called her name, took her away and she was gone in an instant.”

Ms Marsden, from Chorley, has a three-year-old daughter who is being looked after by her father in the UK.

She was travelling back from Trinidad with her daughter, where they had been visiting family when she was arrested. She is yet to enter a plea.

Ms Marsden’s companion, 27-year-old Daniel Lee, from Chorley, was arrested at the same time after 1,087 grams of cocaine was allegedly found in his luggage. He is also being detained at the Metropolitan Detention Centre.