The Star Wars criminal underworld extends far beyond the scattered smugglers and bounty hunters we’ve come to know. Across the galaxy, Star Wars crime syndicates have shaped history through influence, violence, and cunning—manipulating events from the shadows while empires rise and fall.
The ancient Hutt Clan controlled vital hyperspace lanes. The Pyke Syndicate turned the spice trade into one of the galaxy’s most profitable and dangerous industries. Crimson Dawn emerged under Darth Maul’s iron grip and evolved into a syndicate war machine under Lady Qi’ra. The Black Sun profited through trafficking and extortion, while the Crymorah Syndicate helped Jabba the Hutt climb to power within his clan.
During the Imperial Era and beyond, these groups weren’t just surviving—they were thriving, seizing power where the Republic and Empire left gaps. Whether they operated in plain sight or deep in the shadows, these Star Wars crime syndicates ran criminal economies, started wars, and altered galactic destiny.
In this listicle, we rank the 13 most powerful Star Wars crime syndicates—exploring what they’re known for, when they were active, and where you’ll find them across movies, series, comics, and especially Star Wars: Outlaws. From cybernetic killers to honour-bound clans, these are the forces that truly ruled the underworld.
13 – Bando Gora
A terrifying cult, but limited in scale, reach, and duration.
The Bando Gora weren’t your average gang—they were a drug-peddling death cult with Force-sensitive assassins and a nihilistic devotion to chaos. After the invasion of Naboo, they emerged as death stick kingpins, blending dark mysticism with mind-melting drugs.
They became such a threat that Darth Sidious personally ordered their destruction, tasking Count Dooku to wipe them out. Dooku hired Jango Fett, setting in motion the events that would lead to the clone army’s creation.
Though they remain part of Legends canon, the Bando Gora’s twisted legacy still haunts the underworld’s darkest corners. Had Jango failed, the galaxy might’ve bowed to a cult addicted to death and domination.
12 – Crymorah Syndicate
The old guard of the underworld and Jabba’s original kingmakers.
Before Darth Maul, before Qi’ra, and long before the likes of Crimson Dawn or the Droid Gotra—there was the Before flashy syndicates and Sith-backed warlords dominated headlines, the Crymorah Syndicate was running the show from the shadows. Think old-school mafia: less spice, more smarts.
They helped Jabba the Hutt climb to the Grand Hutt Council and brokered intel with the Empire, selling out rebels when the price was right. In the Clone Wars, they were one of Maul’s Five Syndicates, but they never needed the spotlight. Crymorah thrived on influence, not spectacle.
Their legacy faded quietly—not from weakness, but from a world that got louder and bloodier. You won’t find flashy battles or iconic masks here. Just power, old money, and quiet threats that got things done.
11 – Son-tuul Pride
A brutal underdog with deadly ambition and a knack for surviving extinction.
The Son-tuul Pride doesn’t play politics or flash credits. They rule through fear, internal purges, and ruthless efficiency. They were the so-called “secret sixth” of Maul’s Shadow Collective—not official, but feared enough to be treated like they were.
If a member failed a mission, they didn’t get a second chance—they got executed. That brutal code kept the Pride lean, loyal, and lethal.
They survived the fall of the Empire, clashed with Darth Vader, and showed up at Crimson Dawn’s infamous auction for Han Solo’s carbonite. While other syndicates made headlines, Son-tuul quietly made corpses.
Still active in the background of Star Wars: Outlaws, they’re a warning: if you’re making moves in the underworld, don’t let the Pride notice you.
10 – Guavian Death Gang
Cybernetics, chemicals, and a zero-refund policy.
The Guavian Death Gang aren’t here to negotiate—they’re here to collect. First introduced in The Force Awakens, these crimson-armoured enforcers fused tech and terror into one of the most brutal enforcement squads in the underworld.
Augmented with combat drugs and cybernetic implants, they traded diplomacy for intimidation. They nearly killed Han Solo after a deal went sideways, and later became rivals to Kanjiklub in the lawless sectors of the New Republic era.
They’re not strategic masterminds—but they don’t need to be when brute force speaks louder.
9 – Kanjiklub
From Hutt slaves to syndicate shot-callers.
Originally part of the Hutt enforcer network, Kanjiklub broke away and carved its own brutal path in the galaxy’s underworld. Fiercely loyal, intensely aggressive, and tactically sharp, the gang operated like a militarised brotherhood under Tasu Leech.
During the New Republic era, they became infamous for their war with the Guavian Death Gang—and their legendary standoff with Han Solo aboard the Eravana. With the Hutts weakened, Kanjiklub took full advantage, staking their claim in the Outer Rim chaos.
They weren’t elegant. But they didn’t need to be.
8 – Ashiga Clan
Honor-bound, hive-minded, and hiding deadly secrets on Kijimi.
Operating more like a feudal house than a street gang, the Ashiga Clan has built its underworld empire on honour, discretion, and tight regional control. They avoid the galactic spotlight—not out of fear, but strategy. While others expand wildly, the Ashiga consolidate and endure.
Rarely engaging in turf wars, their influence lies in key trade routes, martial training, and the kind of secrets that get people quietly removed. And now, with Star Wars: Outlaws on the horizon, they’re stepping out from the shadows—ready to remind the galaxy that patience is a weapon.
7 – Red Key Raiders
Mining company by name, slavers by trade.
After the fall of the Empire, the Outer Rim was up for grabs—and the Red Key Raiders moved fast. Masquerading as a mining operation, they used corporate paperwork to mask their criminal expansion across Tatooine.
But when faced with real resistance, especially from Cobb Vanth and other frontier fighters, Red Key dropped the act. They pivoted to brute force: raids, executions, and full-scale takeovers. Though scattered today, they still linger—like a splinter in the spine of the New Republic’s control.
They proved that when lawlessness reigns, all it takes is a fake permit and a blaster to start a new empire.
6 – Droid Gotra
Separatist leftovers turned syndicate revolutionaries.
Droid Gotra isn’t your typical crime syndicate. It’s an uprising in disguise. What started as a movement for droid rights evolved into a full-fledged criminal faction, smuggling arms, hacking databanks, and rewriting the rules of galactic control—one memory wipe at a time.
They operate in the shadows, led by droids, enhanced organics, and AI-driven logistics. While many see them as scavengers or separatist leftovers, their vision is far more dangerous: a galaxy where droids don’t serve—they rule.
You might not notice them until your ship doesn’t respond to you anymore.
5 – Zann Consortium
When stealth, sabotage, and style take on the galaxy.
The Zann Consortium didn’t just challenge the Empire—they rewrote the rules of engagement. A wild card from Empire at War: Forces of Corruption, this syndicate blurred the lines between military, crime, and insurgency.
Led by the ruthless Tyber Zann, they mixed elite mercenaries, corruption rings, and advanced tech to dominate planets through fear, bribery, and total war. Their ability to corrupt planetary governments and steal enemy resources made them a threat to everyone—Rebels and Imperials alike.
They aren’t canon (yet). But their influence? Undeniable.
4 – Black Sun
Widespread. Wealthy. Completely ruthless.
If the underworld had a hall of fame, Black Sun would own it. From the Clone Wars to the Outer Rim chaos post-Empire, Black Sun has been everywhere: smuggling, trafficking, assassination, politics—you name it.
Originally empowered by the Falleen nobles and later brought into Maul’s Shadow Collective, they played both sides of the war and survived. Through strategic alliances, corrupt officials, and a willingness to adapt, Black Sun embedded itself into galactic infrastructure like rot in the walls.
They may not scream for attention. They don’t need to. They’re already in the room.
3 – Hutt Cartel
Ancient, arrogant, and absolutely everywhere.
Before the Empire, before the Pykes, before Crimson Dawn—there were the Hutts. Notorious for their gluttony and cunning, the Hutt Cartel ran the criminal underworld with all the grace of a sledgehammer made of credits.
Operating from Nal Hutta and the smoggy alleys of Nar Shaddaa, the Cartel traded in everything from spice and slaves to bounty contracts and planetary blackmail. Jabba was just one of many—they’ve always been a collective, a cabal, and a cartel that turns corruption into a business plan.
Even weakened, the Hutts still pull strings galaxy-wide. And they never forget a debt.
2 – Crimson Dawn
Dead? Only if you believe what they want you to.
Founded by Darth Maul. Reinvented by Qi’ra. Crimson Dawn didn’t just survive galactic upheaval—they mastered it. With roots in the Sith and fingers in everything from spice to senators, they combined mystique, ideology, and brutality into a syndicate unlike any other.
From secret summits to galaxy-spanning sleeper cells, Crimson Dawn proved you don’t need to be loud to be lethal. Their influence lingers in the halls of power and on the battlefield alike.
They were the syndicate nobody saw coming—until it was far too late.
1 – The Pyke Syndicate
Luxury, cruelty, and absolute control—spiced with corruption.
At the peak of galactic crime, no name rings out louder—or hits harder—than the Pyke Syndicate. Rising from the sulfurous mines of Kessel, the Pykes didn’t just monopolise spice trade—they turned it into a galactic dependency.
They ran supply lines from Coruscant to Tatooine, funded coups, bribed senators, and made the Empire an accomplice. Even Maul couldn’t break their backbone; he simply joined the supply chain. Post-Endor, they evolved again—leaner, richer, and more ruthless.
You don’t cross the Pykes. You pay them. Or you disappear.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most powerful crime syndicate in Star Wars?
The Pyke Syndicate currently holds the top spot, thanks to its galaxy-wide control of the spice trade, ties to the Empire, and recent resurgence in The Book of Boba Fett and Star Wars: Outlaws.
Is Crimson Dawn still active in Star Wars canon?
Yes—while Crimson Dawn vanished after Maul’s downfall, it resurged under Qi’ra. As of The Book of Boba Fett and recent comics, it’s still a covert, growing threat.
Are the Zann Consortium or Black Sun canon?
Black Sun is canon and appears in The Clone Wars and comics. The Zann Consortium is still Legends-only, but remains a fan-favourite and could resurface in future stories.
What was the role of the Hutt Cartel in Star Wars?
The Hutt Cartel dominated the Outer Rim’s criminal economy for centuries—running spice, slavery, bounty hunters, and smuggling with bureaucratic brutality from Nal Hutta.
Which syndicates appear in Star Wars: Outlaws?
Star Wars: Outlaws will feature the Pykes, Ashiga Clan, and possibly others. It expands the criminal underworld during the Rebellion era, offering players multiple syndicate alliances.
