All 12 Star Wars Crime Syndicates Explained

The Star Wars galaxy is full of some very dangerous crime syndicates. Operating across an expansive galaxy-wide underworld, several criminal groups came to power (and thrived during the Imperial Era). At the same time, many of these syndicates were eventually replaced by others heading into the New Republic era and beyond.

Palpatine had his Galactic Empire which allowed him to rule the galaxy for decades. However, the galactic underworld was an entirely different matter. Some syndicates were ruled by those who at times worked with the Imperials, while others made major moves to eliminate not only their rival syndicates, but also the Empire itself. To that end, here’s every major crime syndicate in Star Wars’ Skywalker saga.

12 Crimson Dawn

Led By Maul, Then Lady Qi’ra

Rising to power just before the end of the Clone Wars, Crimson Dawn was created by the former Darth Maul to serve his interests in the criminal underworld. Dryden Vos served as the initial public face of the organization, while Maul himself became the shadow leader of four other major syndicates. This granted Maul a large amount of power he intended to use against Palpatine, his former Sith master.

Maul kept Crimson Dawn and the rest of the “Five Crime Syndicates” in line and under control for years. However, the syndicates quickly became rivals once more after Maul became stranded on Malachor and was eventually slain by Obi-Wan Kenobi on Tatooine just before the events of A New Hope (seen in Star Wars Rebels). That said, Lady Qi’ra took over Crimson Dawn in the wake of Maul’s death (having killed Vos herself as seen in Solo: A Star War Story).

Intending to finish what Maul could not, Qi’ra sought to rid the galaxy of the Sith by igniting a major Syndicate War in between Episodes V-VI, the events of which can be seen in both Marvel’s canonical Star Wars comics and Star Wars: Outlaws. While Qi’ra nearly succeeded in defeating both Palpatine and Darth Vader, she ultimately failed with Crimson Dawn falling apart near the end of the Galactic Civil War and the start of the New Republic Era (though she did live to see the Empire’s fall).

11 The Hutt Clan

Bigger Than Jabba Alone

Jabba the Hutt’s criminal empire on Tatooine was only part of a much larger criminal enterprise controlled by the Hutt Clan. Also a member of Maul’s Five Crime Syndicates, the Hutts exist in the Star Wars timeline as one of the oldest crime syndicates, which is largely due to the impressive lifespans of the Hutts themselves. Led by its ruling Grand Hutt Council on Nar Shadaa, the Hutts had a hand in smuggling and all sorts of illegal and illicit business activities, and also maintained control of various hyperspace lanes.

The Hutts were often allied with the Empire to help keep smaller criminal enterprises in line. However, Crimson Dawn’s interference between Episodes V-VI saw Darth Vader killing the Hutt Council, leaving Jabba alone as the sole ruler of the entire Hutt Clan. Once Jabba himself died at the hands of Princess Leia in Return of the Jedi, the Hutt Clan began to rapidly decline heading into the New Republic Era.

10 The Pykes

Controlling The Spice Mines of Kessel

The third major member of Maul’s Five Crime Syndicates, the Pykes’ wealth and power was built on the back of its impressive spice production based out of the planet Kessel. However, the planet Oba Diah served as the homeworld of the Pykes themselves. While the Pykes were notably featured in The Clone Wars as part of Maul’s Shadow Collective, they were also featured in live-action for the first time in Solo: A Star Wars Story.

In The Book of Boba Fett, The Pykes formed a major rivalry with Boba Fett after they tried claiming the late Jabba’s holdings on Tatooine Fett had already claimed for himself. Ultimately, Fett and his allies were able to drive the Pykes and their spice operations off Tatooine altogether. While they would supposedly continue operating during the New Republic, it’s been suggested that their power was diminished in the new era.

9 The Crymorah

A Group Of Powerful Crime Families

A lesser-known faction of Maul’s Five Crime Syndicates, The Crymorah was still a force to be reckoned with. Composed of multiple species and crime families who had allied together as one large network, the Crymorah was an impressive organization that was largely responsbile for granting Jabba the Hutt his position on the Grand Hutt Council. The Crymorah also served the Empire, providing underworld intelligence as needed while also serving as envoys with the various other syndicates on the Empire’s behalf.

8 Black Sun

Rose To Power During The Clone Wars

Largely led by the species known as The Falleen, Black Sun came into power during the Clone Wars as the Jedi Order began focusing less on the underworld and more on the war where they were serving as the Republic’s generals and commanders. Also part of Maul’s Five Crime Syndicates, Black Sun was essentially forced into joining Maul after many of their leaders were slain by Savage Oppress. Black Sun had large operations on both Mustafar and Ord Mantell, one of the most prominent operations being “sentient-trafficking”.

During the New Republic Era, Black Sun attempted to bribe various senators to prolong the Galactic Civil War to maintain wartime profits. However, they ultimately failed. Black Sun was originally created in the previous Legends continuity, and was brought back into the official Star Wars canon thanks to The Clone Wars animated series.

7 Son-tuul Pride

The Secret Sixth Member of Maul’s Five Crime Syndicates

While much smaller, the Son-tuul Pride was often considered to be the secret sixth member of Maul’s Syndicates. Made up of various species, the Pride ruthlessly killed its own members in the face of failure. The Son-tuul Pride also found itself targeted by the Empire and Darth Vader himself shortly after the Battle of Yavin. They were also present at Crimson Dawn’s auction where Qi’ra was selling Han Solo frozen in carbonite to the highest bidder, the start of the original trilogy’s Syndicate War, and survived into the New Republic Era.

6 Ashiga Clan

Weapons Manufacturing On Kijimi

The Ashiga Clan is a newer syndicate created for the Star Wars: Outlaws video game. Based out of Kijimi, the Ashiga Clan was led by the Melitto with origins dating back to the High Republic Era. All of their operations (such as weapons manufacturing) were based around their hierarchical hive led by Queen Ashiga between Episodes V-VI. While Queen Ashiga sought to work with the Empire to expand their own operations, her own daughter opposed these goals and led a coup against her, one that was supported by Lady Qi’ra and Crimson Dawn to further sow more underworld chaos.

5 Zerek Besh

Harboring A Dark Secret

Warning! This section contains SPOILERS for Star Wars: OutlawsAs seen in Outlaws, Zerek Besh seemingly emerged during the Galactic Civil War. Led by Sliro Barsha, Zerek Besh had great influence and resources. However, the syndicate was in truth a covert operation by the Imperial Security Bureau, of which Sliro was a member. Using Zerek Besh, Barsha was able to gain intelligence on the various syndicates for the Empire’s use, while also hunting down members of the Rebel Alliance.

4 Droid Gotra

Replacing The Crymorah

Originally serving as enforcers for the Crymorah, The Droid Gotra eventually came into its own as a major organization during the New Republic and beyond. Originally, the Droid Gotra was meant to serve as key antagonists for the canceled Star Wars game 1313, though they lived on in the canon, existing as former Separatist droids supporting droid rights who were unhappy with the Empire abandoning them after the end of the Clone Wars. As such, it wouldn’t be surprising if Outlaws’ liberated commando droid ND-5 has afflictions with the Gotra.

3 Guavian Death Gang

Cybernetic Enforcers

First appearing in The Force Awakens, and unhappy with Han Solo having taken advantage of them, members of the Guavian Death Gang were given red cybernetic armor as well as chemicals that helped increase their strength and aggression. They were also featured in the animated series Star Wars Resistance. Along with the Son-tuul Pride, it was said that the Guavian Death Gang replaced Crimson Dawn during the New Republic.

2 Kanjiklub

Originated From The Hutt Clans

Kanjiklub also debuted in The Force Awakens, confronting Han Solo who owed them money. Comprised of former Hutt Clan slaves, Kanjiklub were major rivals to the Guavian Death Gang during the New Republic Era, and came into their own as a major syndicate in the wake of the Pykes and Hutts’ decline. The early years of their leader, Tasu Leech, were also featured in Marvel’s canonical Bounty Hunters series.

1 Red Key Raiders

Emerged In The New Republic Era

Originally posing as the more legitimate Red Key Mining Company, the Red Key Raiders emerged in the wake of Jabba’s death, and even took credit for the Hutt’s death for quite some time. Not only did they work with Black Sun to try and prolong the Galactic Civil War, but they also attempted to take over regions of Tatooine such as Mos Pelgo, turning it into a slave town. However, they were ultimately driven away by Marshall Cobb Vanth who’d discovered (and used) Boba Fett’s armor (as seen in The Mandalorian). Nevertheless, they continued to serve as a major syndicate during the New Republic Era.