An inmate is shown in the midst of an attack from an energy spider
The infamous spice mines of Kessel functioned first as a Galactic Republic penal colony, and later became a slave labor camp under the control of the Galactic Empire.
Workers toiled to extract the valuable spice, all while facing constant danger from the energy spiders infesting the area. Due to the extreme difficulty of the work and the incredibly poor conditions, it was essentially a form of torture. The mines had intensely cold temperatures, necessitating the use of thermal suits for survival. The thin atmosphere resulted in the continuous loss of vital gases like oxygen, requiring the placement of oxygen generators around the planet. The Empire would threaten uncooperative individuals with forced labor in the mines as punishment for their disobedience.
During the period of the Galactic Civil War, Hawk Carrow and Nagraoao found themselves imprisoned within the Kessel Spice Mines. In an attempt to free his comrades, Roark Garnet piloted his ship, the Dorion Discus, to the Kessel system, but a Star Destroyer intercepted him for inspection. Garnet successfully bribed a Navy officer, securing his passage.
Before the death of Emperor Palpatine and the subsequent decline of the Empire, a prison uprising occurred, resulting in the warden's assistant seizing control and transforming the mines into a personal slave operation. Subsequently, Lando Calrissian made an effort to transform the mines into a legitimate operation. Furthermore, the mines served as the location where Han Solo and Chewbacca encountered Kyp Durron.