Two charged with running Waukegan drug lab
Two Waukegan residents have been charged with operating an illegal lab to create illicit drugs out of their apartment.
Derek A. Ventresca, 28, and Vanessa Zavala, 20, have been charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of a controlled substance with the intent to deliver, Waukegan police said in a news release Thursday. Ventresca is also charged with one count of obstructing justice, authorities said.
Ventresca remains held in Lake County jail on $250,000 bail, while Zavala is held on $200,000 bail, authorities said. Each must post 10 percent of the bail to be released from custody.
The two are accused of running a chemical drug lab out of their Waukegan apartment in the 1000 block of Lakehurst Drive, authorities said.
Waukegan police were called to the apartment at 11 a.m. Tuesday to meet with the complex manager, who attempting an eviction. The manager told police he entered the unit and noticed numerous chemicals inside, authorities said.
Officers described the scene as a "lab" and contacted the department's Gang Intelligence Unit for assistance. The apartment complex was evacuated for about 12 hours while the Illinois State Police controlled the scene.
Police said the drug lab was processing illegal narcotics - specifically for the manufacture of dimethyltryptamine, also known as the hallucinogen DMT.
The duo are due back in court Aug. 26.