Two charged after drug lab found in Waukegan

A man and woman are facing charges after a drug lab was discovered during an eviction Tuesday morning in north suburban Waukegan.

Derek A. Ventresca, 28, was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and obstruction, according to a statement from Waukegan police. Vanessa Zavala, 20, was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver.

About 11 a.m. Tuesday, the manager of an apartment building in the 1000 block of Lakehurst Drive called police to report that numerous chemicals had been found during the eviction of a unit, police said. The immediate area was evacuated due to the unknown chemicals in the apartment and the densely populated building.

Illinois State Police responded with their specialized crime lab team and controlled the scene, police said. The lab and chemicals found in the apartment are commonly used to manufacture DMT, a controlled substance and hallucinogenic.

The evacuation order was lifted at 11 p.m. Tuesday, police said.

Ventresca was ordered held at the Lake County Jail on a $250,000 bond, and Zavala was ordered held on a $200,000 bond, police said. Both are next scheduled to appear in court Friday.