If you ask anyone in Team Skull, they will boast all of Alola’s islands belong to them, but that obviously isn’t the case. They do, however, have a prominent presence on each of the islands (with the exception of Poni, perhaps).


ULA’ULA
Malie City is where Team Skull really began, and it’s where it is still most active today. In fact, many people will say Guzma “runs this city, too”—referring to how he has control over Po Town.

Except for in the more higher class areas of Malie, Team Skull is able to take what they want from many stores and restaurants without causing a scene. Although, sometimes new employees or fed up shop owners get in the way of things, so they do have to be prepared.


MELEMELE
Ever since running away, if Guzma goes to Melemele, he only stays within the denser part of Hau’oli City. If there’s ever business for him to tend to on the rest of the island, he sends other Skull members in his place.


AKALA
Akala Island has been the most difficult island for Team Skull or other criminals to establish themselves in. Its police force is more active than those on the other islands. Presently, however, (aside from the typical obstructing of Trialgoers’ paths) Skull is managing with swindling tourists, raising hell in the farmlands, and occasionally raiding the Thrifty Megamart. It is mostly small-time, petty crimes taking place here. More often than not the mischief isn’t ordered by Guzma, but rather carried out for fun by the Grunts. As long as they’re outsmarting the cops, the Boss doesn’t have a problem with this and will sometimes include himself in on the antics.


PONI
Poni Island does not see a lot of violent or even disruptive crime—from Team Skull or otherwise—due to its lack of population and the peacefulness among the people who do live there. However, Team Skull makes appearances there sometimes. Poni is the main port Skull will receive its goods from if they’re coming from other regions. Black market Pokemon, drugs, and sometimes weapons make it there from all over. Other islands’ ports will check foreign cargo, but Poni isn’t regulated the same. This makes it easier to smuggle things to Alola (and it’s been especially easier while without a Kahuna).


ALOLAN WATERS
Team Skull can easily ship things freely from island to island as regulation doesn’t require cargo on Alola-registered boats to be inspected unless there is reason for suspicion. One would expect a boat with Team Skull members on board would be suspicious by default, but the gang pays Alola’s maritime authorities to keep eyes off them as long as they come and go without being too rowdy.


OTHER REGIONS
Team Skull does not have a presence in any other regions, nor are they trying to make a presence in other regions. As explained above, they do receive goods from other regions sometimes, but they don’t travel out to these regions. This is a choice Guzma has made and intends to stick to strictly. He’s only interested in maintaining and increasing criminal power over Alola—it perpetuates the ideals of the islands’ previous major criminal group struck down by the Tapu, which Skull based itself on. Some people criticize Guzma for this (even his own Grunts behind his back), saying he’s playing it too safe and that he’s holding Team Skull back from being so much more powerful and threatening.