During the Galactic Empire's reign, a criminal of the human species was affiliated with the Kanji Criminal Enterprise. This individual and the Kanji protected Wyrmen Lictor, a fighter in the pit, who earned them significant money through victories in the Garkata Fighting Arena located on the Smuggler's Moon of Nar Shaddaa. In 3 ABY, Boba Fett, a bounty hunter fighting under the alias Jango, killed Lictor in a match within the arena. Following this, Fett's attempt to claim his winnings led to the Kanji criminal, along with others, confronting him. They presented Fett with the choice of either fighting again to compensate for Lictor's death or simply leaving. Fett chose to forfeit the credits and depart, a decision that displeased the Kanji.
Later, Luke Skywalker, Chewbacca, and C-3PO, members of the rebels, traveled to Nar Shaddaa after receiving reports of Fett's presence there. They connected with Chewbacca's contact, Sagwa, and proceeded to the arena, where they inquired about Fett to a Pa'lowick attendant. The Pa'lowick then alerted the Kanji criminal and their associates who quickly arrived. Still angered by Fett's killing of Lictor and failure to atone for it, the criminal demanded that the rebels reveal Jango's whereabouts or settle his debts. Skywalker responded that they were not allies of Jango and were, in fact, searching for him as well. The Kanji then declared that Skywalker and his companions were now under the control of the Hutts of Nar Kanji and that further discussion would take place at their headquarters.
Skywalker brandished his lightsaber and stated his intention to leave with his friends, warning the Kanji not to interfere. The criminal ordered their group to eliminate Chewbacca, Skywalker, and Sagwa, and to bring C-3PO back to their base so they could slice the droid in an attempt to extract information. After Skywalker deflected a barrage of blaster fire, the criminal concluded that he was a Jedi and remembered that the Empire still had an active bounty on Jedi. Subsequently, the criminal devised a new plan to capture Skywalker in order to claim the bounty, and also requested reinforcements. Despite their efforts, the Kanji failed to capture Skywalker, who escaped with his companions aboard the Millennium Falcon. As the rebels departed, the Kanji criminal instructed a member of their crew to contact the Imperial Garrison on Vandor with information on the Jedi, hoping to receive payment for this intel.