Smugglers' Alliance

The Smuggler's Alliance finds its roots in the loose coalition of top smugglers brought together by Talon Karrde to aid the New Republic against the assaults of Grand Admiral Thrawn. After playing a major role in the defeat of Thrawn's forces at the Battle of Bilbringi, the collaboration coalesced into a formal alliance aligned with the New Republic.

For over fifteen years, the Smuggler's Alliance and the New Republic worked together in a mutually beneficial relationship, with Mara Jade acting as a liaison until she wed Luke Skywalker and resettled on Yavin 4. The smugglers provided the New Republic with intelligence and vital supplies in conflict zones, while the New Republic provided aid to the smugglers' legal activities within New Republic space and allowed them free reign to smuggle inside hostile space.

The Yuuzhan Vong invasion in 25 ABY drove a spike through an alliance already weakened by the Pellaeon-Gavrisom Treaty's reduction in areas smugglers could operate in without concern. In the early stages of the invasion, smugglers ran supplies, weapons and refugees to and from worlds. As beings began to lose faith in victory against the extragalactic invaders, some smugglers began to offer their services to the Yuuzhan Vong in hopes of earning good grace.

30 ABY saw the fall of Coruscant and the dissolution of the Smugger's Alliance. Demand for illegal goods hit rock bottom as short supply of spice forced users to confront their adictions and economies were rattled. Thus, the smugglers parted ways and set off.