The Juaka Canyon was beyond the immigrant miners' self-imposed limits, as they knew that native Talids had claimed it for themselves. Nevertheless, at some point before 27 BBY, ambitious criminal and sports sponsor Kaeline Ungasan organized his podracing event, the Ungasan Cross Country, so that the course would go through the Canyon. Ungasan and his partner-in-crime Ree believed that the Canyon was rich in Vonium metal, and attached scanning equipment in the racers' pods. Ree managed the illegal operation by bribing Elesa Mining Union representative Geon Justic, but Justic, attempting to get rid of Ree, neglected to warn him of the Talids.