The Clone Wars drew even criminal organizations into the galactic conflict. The Separatist plot to kidnap Rotta the Huttlet and frame the Jedi for it demonstrated how the Hutts' control of hyperspace routes made them valuable allies. The Republic's successful rescue mission, led by Anakin Skywalker and Ahsoka Tano, secured temporary Hutt neutrality in the war.
Ziro the Hutt's imprisonment following his role in the kidnapping plot illustrated the complex relationships between legitimate governments and criminal organizations. The Hutts, while officially neutral, played both sides against each other for profit, selling information and resources to the highest bidder while maintaining their independence.
This criminal involvement in galactic politics foreshadowed the increasing importance of underworld connections as the war progressed. Both Republic and Separatist intelligence services would come to rely heavily on criminal contacts for information and covert operations.