Police seized drugs, a loaded gun and cash Wednesday during a raid at a smoke shop where two East Bay men are suspected of having run a drug-dealing operation, authorities said.

Officers from San Mateo and the San Mateo County Narcotics Task Force raided Cigarette City, on West 37th Avenue, after a three-month investigation sparked by several complaints from neighbors about illegal drug sales at the store, said task force Cmdr. Marc Alcantara.

Police seized $10,000 in cash, a loaded .45-caliber handgun, a combined total of about 200 Xanax and Vicodin pills and 4 ounces of marijuana. Police said they arrested store manager Mahmoud Saeidah, of Richmond, and store employee Eid Ayesh, of Hayward, on weapon and drug charges.

Alcantara said police began monitoring Cigarette City after getting the complaints. Undercover officers bought marijuana at the store several times, he said. It’s not clear whether the owner was involved in the suspected dealing or just the two employees, he said.

The investigation is ongoing.

When reached by phone at his shop, store owner Nizar Saeidah, 38, of Richmond, said he had no idea the men were selling drugs out of the store.

He added that Ayesh is not an employee. Mahmoud Saeidah had been running the store while Nizar Saeidah was starting a gift shop in San Rafael, he said.

“They were screwing up instead of taking care of business,” Nizar Saeidah said.

The men were booked into the San Mateo County jail. Saeidah, 28, remains in custody in lieu of $100,000 bail, and Ayesh is being held in lieu of $15,000 bail. Ayesh, 28, faces fewer charges than Saeidah.

The San Mateo Police Department will continue to monitor all similar businesses operating within the city.

Contact Joshua Melvin at 650-348-4335.