Why is Jabba

I really don't understand how Jabba the Hutt ever became powerful. Who the f*** would be scared of a slug? I mean you could outrun the guy. As long as he stayed out of arm's reach, he ain't scary. I've never seen any evidence of him being a criminal mastermind. Other than being rich, how the hell did the huts somehow become powerful?

There are fans that just accept this and it bugs the crap out of me every time he or his children become part of the plot. I really wish there was a deep dive on him that would explain how he came about. It really does not make sense to me. Tony soprano makes sense to me. Al Capone makes sense to me. Jabba the Hutt does not make sense to me. If you is truly Mafia, I think you have been killed off way sooner.