Nederland Internet Cafe, touted as a place to check e-mail, surf the World Wide Web and play games, was shut down by law enforcement as an illegal gambling facility on Wednesday.

The business, located on Nederland Avenue, was under investigation for about two months before investigators obtained enough information to execute two search warrants; one for the business and another for a residence.

The suspects arrested include Mukhtiar Khuwaja, 29, and Azim Amirali Sumar, 41. They are charged with the Class A misdemeanor of keeping a gambling place and gambling promotion.

Nederland Police Chief Darrell Bush said patrons of the Internet Cafe are issued a card and setup with a computer for online gambling. Police believe patrons cash winnings was placed on the card.

Behind the front counter inside the business, a dry erase board announced “good news” with the words “Wednesday — senior citizen day.”

During the raid almost every computer inside the establishment was in use with patrons playing slot machine type games. Officers went from person to person checking identification while other officers dealt with one of the suspects.

Bush said this is one of the first times local law enforcement has dealt with a virtual casino such as the Internet Cafe. The difference between playing gambling games at home on the Internet and the operation in Nederland is that the cafe is a public place.

Jefferson County Sheriff Mitch Woods said financial records of both suspects will be checked to see if the money trail leads to further charges.

Bush said a sizable amount of cash was seized from the cafe and the home and all equipment, computers, will be confiscated. He said he was unsure of the fate of the numerous patrons.

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics and Vice Unit assisted by the Nederland Police Department, executed the warrants. Assisting agencies include the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force, FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force and agents from Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearm, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Drug Enforcement Agency, Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office, Port Arthur Police Department and the Beaumont Police Department.