The major organizations that dominate the world of organized crime, the Five Syndicates oscillate between existing in uneasy alliances with one another and all gang warfare across entire sectors of the galaxy. However, notably, crime syndicates must stay in the shadows - which is why they must hire Bounty Hunters (see below) by passing notes to do much of their dirty work.
One of the most omnipresent criminal empires, Black Sun rose to infamy as a cartel that controlled most major shipping organizations. They've since entrenched themselves in control of most major commerce in the galaxy, controlling a monopoly on legitimate shipping, as well as piracy and smuggling.
Prince Xizor
The Underlord of Black Sun and the corporate owner of Xizor Transport Systems, Prince Xizor is one of the three most wealthy beings in the galaxy. Through the ruthless exploitation of thousands of beings, both in his mass conglomerate and his criminal empire, Xizor has a near unprecedented level of power over the galaxy, kept in check by the Emperor himself.
Individual Directive Ability: Prince Xizor has full access to the funds of the Black Sun syndicate and Xizor Transport Systems, and can broadly control both organizations with his individual directives. Additionally, Xizor has acquired a stake in many of the activities of Besadii Hutt family, and can use this to influence and blackmail Aruk, the Besadii representative in the Hutt Council.
Featured in: Shadows of the Empire (Multimedia Project)
Lord Xanak Grunseit
The grand nephew of Xomit Grunseit, the former leader of Black Sun, and the cousin of Prince Xizor, the current leader of Black Sun, Xanak craves the power in the hands of his close family members. If Xizor is assasinated, Xanak is next in line for the throne of the Black Sun, a position he covets very much.
Individual Directive Ability: In addition to the general resources of the Black Sun, Xanak controls Xomit Transport Systems, a shipping shell company that acts as a legal cover for the Black Sun, with his individual directive. He is next in line for control of Black Sun if Prince Xizor dies.
Xet
Despite being a high-ranking member of the Black Sun, Xet is an agent of the rival syndicate Crimson Dawn. She feeds information to them, promised a greater stake in their criminal empire once Black Sun collapses.
Individual Directive Ability: Xet can use assets of both Black Sun and Crimson Dawn in her individual directives, and can leverage private Black Sun dealings with the rival syndicate.
Featured in: Doctor Aphra (Comics)
Possessing a near monopoly on the trading of spice throughout the Galaxy, the Pyke Syndicate has remained a solid hold on their corner of the galactic underworld for years. From their criminal homeworld of Oba Diah, the Pykes fuel the addictions of the galaxy, reaping enormous profits thanks to their spice mining operations on the planet of Kessel. The Pykes' stranglehold on the spice-rich planet is so complete that they also control a lucrative coaxium mine, adding even further riches to their coffers. The Pykes currently enjoy an alliance with the shadowy Crimson Dawn, though this alliance is tenuous at best.
Marg Krim
Officially titled the Illustrious Imperator, Marg Krim has lead the Pyke Syndicate since the Clone Wars. Previously protected from hostile interests by galactic kingpin Maul, Marg Krim must now contend with the other Crime Syndicates, who have always sought to muscle in on the Pyke's lucrative spice business. Krim also has a soft side, deeply caring about his family - something other syndicate leaders have exploited in the past.
Individual Directive Ability: Through his individual directives, Krim controls the Pyke Syndicate, and has a complete monopoly over the narcotics trade in the galaxy.
Featured in: The Clone Wars, Season 7, Dark Disciple (Novel)
A reformed group of mercenaries, Crimson Dawn is now known for its masquerade demeanor of high class elegance, which conceals a brutal criminal empire within. However, its recently reformed somewhat under its new leader Qi'ra, who is transforming it into a tool for her own ideological crusade agaist the Sith lords controlling the Empire.
Qi'ra
Qi'ra, the leader of the Crimson Dawn, is beyond all else an idealist. A master of the arts of Teräs Käsi, she impressed Maul, the secret leader of Crimson Dawn and lord of the underworld. After he disappeared, she assumed control of the syndicate. With knowledge of the Sith from Maul, she became dedicated to taking down the Sith Lords Sidious and Vader currently in control of the Galactic Empire.
Individual Directive Ability: Qi'ra completely controls the extensive resources of the Crimson Dawn syndicate with her individual directives, as well as its many connections - agents like Xet in the Black Sun, the Knights of Ren, and even the Rebellion. She additionally learned from Maul about the secrets of an ancient artifact - The Fermata Cage - that could help her in the struggle.
Featured in: Solo, War of the Bounty Hunters, Crimson Reign, Hidden Empire, Crimson Climb
The Archivist
Once a sava at the Bar'leth university, the individual who now is only known as The Archivist acts as a researcher and agent for Crimson Dawn. Particularly drawn to studying the Force, The Archivist is one of the foremost scholars in the world on the Dark Side, and how it can affect the individuals who use it.
Individual Directive Ability: The Archivist has an exceptional talent for research and exploration, and can judiciously use her individual directives for finding information and discovering underworld knowledge.
Featured in: Doctor Aphra, Crimson Reign, Hidden Empire
An eccentric collection of crime families based on the Imperial capital world of Coruscant, the Crymorah Syndicate relies heavily on the Droid Gotra liberation group to provide firepower for the expeditions of its other families.
Kara Safwan
The representative of the smaller Rang Clan family within the Crymorah Syndicate, Safwan normally appears as a mere socialite. In reality, she coordinates mass amounts of Crymorah operations.
Individual Directive Ability: Due to her socialite status, Safwan can use her individual directives to gain information on both Imperial targets and rival crime syndicates. Additionally, she can use Droid Gotra troops where she can argue that the purpose she's using them for aligns with the Droids Liberation effort.
Featured in: Solo
The Hutt Clans control the entirety of Hutt Space with a criminal organization so large most regard them as a legitimate governing entity. The families take part in a large variety of criminal activities, governed by a complex hierarchy. The Five Families dominate the world of the Hutt gangsters, as well as that of the criminal syndicates at large. They govern the traditional views of what activites syndicates will and will not engage it, though those are increasingly challenged by young upstarts like Jabba the Hutt.
Aruk Besadii Aora, of Besadii
The leader of the Besadii Kajidic, Aruk assumed power after usurping control from Arok, the previous leader. With revenue from mass slaving and spicing operations, Aruk has led Besadii to be the most powerful of the five Hutt families, surpassing Desilijic, which has attracted their ire. Aruk is the most traditional of the Hutts, eschewing much revelry for profit.
Individual Directive Ability: Aruk can use his individual directives to control the mass slavery and spicing operations of the Besadii Kajidic.
Featured in: The Clone Wars, Seasons 3-5
Gorga Desilijic Aarrpo, of Desilijic (splinter faction)
The accountant of the Hutt Council, Gorga represents a splinter faction of Desilijic, the Kajidic dominated by the brash and unorthodox Jabba. In protest to his uncle's indulgences, Gorga acts as the accountant of the council, making sure that business always remains profitable despite the great excesses of the gangsters.
Individual Directive Ability: Gorga can use his individual directives to audit the finances of the rest of the Hutts at any time, revealing their embezzlements.
Featured in: The Clone Wars, Seasons 3-5
Jabba Desilijic Tiure, of Desilijic (main faction)
The most powerful and notorious of all the Hutts, Jabba led the Desilijic clan to greatness with an abandonment of refinery and tradition. Where certain jobs would have been deemed improper for the Hutt mobs, Jabba instead profited from every criminal activity he could - spice-smuggling, gunrunning, slavery, piracy, goods trafficking - with no moral scrupples to be found.
Individual Directive Ability: Jabba controls the mass finances of the Desilijic clan, and enjoys de facto control over the planet and economy of Tatooine, where his operations are based. He broadly controls Desilijic operations with his individual directives.
Featured in: Return of the Jedi, The Clone Wars, Seasons 1-5
Marlo, of Qunaalac
An elderly and somewhat senile gangster, Marlo runs the Qunaalac Kajidic, the heavily armed family that provides most of the protection for Hutt Space. Marlo takes the duty of protecting the "compound" of Hutt homeworlds above all else, and most of his family's activities involve smuggling weapons and armor for their protection.
Individual Directive Ability: Marlo controls much of the weapons and armor trade in the galaxy through his individual directives, able to quickly arm and protect militias and monitor the global exchange of weaponry.
Featured in: The Clone Wars, Seasons 3-5
Bokku, of Gorensla
Bokku is one of the fittest of the Hutts, and involved with the Gorensla Kajidik, which specializes in front organizations and shell companies - they would rig laws, control spaceports, front entire economies.
Individual Directive Ability: Through his influence over the Gorensla clan, Bokku has the ability to create shell companies and front organizations through his individual directives - and even retroactively declare existing companies to be fronts for his own operations, within reason.
Featured in: Darth Vader (Comics)
Bounty hunters do the dirty work of most of the major crime syndicates; whether it be work as a marauder, private guard, assassin, or informant, most bounty hunters will do anything - for a proper price.
Individual Directive Abilities: Bounty hunters are able to carry out assassinations, move goods around the galaxy, committ piracy, and actually enact any wide variety of crimes through their individual directives. Most crime syndicates must work through these skilled hunters to actually enact their plans.
Boba Fett
An unaltered clone of the bounty hunter Jango Fett, Boba was raised by Aurra Sing and Cad Bane, two of the greatest bounty hunters in the galaxy. Already having led his own syndicate, the Krayt's Claw, Boba Fett now acts as a freelance mercenary for the array of galactic crime lords.
Individual Directive Ability: Boba can leverage heavy profits from most of the major employers. Additionally, he will occasionally receive under-the-table contract work from the Empire.
Featured in: The Clone Wars, Seasons 2-5, Attack of the Clones, Dark Disciple
Bossk
A ferocious trandoshan bounty hunter, Bossk tends to see every situation as a hunt in which he can carefully stalk and track down his prey. Bossk tends to be a solitary hunter, though he'll join in with others where it's advantageous.
Individual Directive Ability: Bossk, with his trandoshan hunting instincts, is skilled in tracking and can use his individual directives to find hidden targets.
Featured in: The Clone Wars, Seasons 2-5, Dark Disciple
Deathstick
The daughter of a nightsister, Deathstick is a legendary bounty hunter and the leader of the Kouhun order of assassins. Normally employed by the Crimson Dawn syndicate, she's renowned for her unmatched ability to eliminate targets.
Individual Directive Ability: Deathstick can broadly use her individual directives to command the Kouhun order of assassins. She can also access the funds of the Crimson Dawn organization.
Featured in: Bounty Hunters (Comic), War of the Bounty Hunters (Comic), Crimson Reign (Comic)
Dengar
A former Corellian swoop bike racer, Dengar turned to bounty hunting to survive. He retains a reputation as one of the more honest bounty hunters, preferring to fight targets legitimately and fairly.
Individual Directive Ability: Due to his reputation for loyalty and honesty, many non-criminal organizations will often hire Dengar out for certain tasks.
Featured in: Bounty Hunters (Comic)