From the very moment Warren was jailed in May 1997 a struggle for power has been rumbling in the Liverpool underworld.
News that Warren could be set for an extended stay behind bars has led to speculation about what such an outcome would mean on the streets of his hometown.
One leading underworld figure says: "Everyone is interested in this because no-one has emerged yet to take Curtis' place in the Liverpool hierarchy.
"There has been a strange atmosphere with no one wanting to be seen to make the kind of move that would take them to the top of the tree.
"But it looks like certain people are just waiting for the right
moment to make their move. If Curtis is convicted of these drugs charges it could be that they will think the time is right to step up.
"There are a lot of powerful people who will stop at nothing just to get more power. I can tell you now that they will not be interested in doing deals."
The National Crime Squad is known to be keeping tabs on the latest developments involving Warren, now 41.
An NCS source says: "On the one hand, if Warren is convicted it will mean one of the most powerful and dangerous criminals this country has ever seen will be out of the way for a considerable period of time.
"But on the other hand, it could disturb the equilibrium. There is nothing more dangerous than a power vacuum and one could be created if Warren is seen as being off the scene almost permanently.
"Whatever happens, we are ready to deal with the fallout."
Peter Walsh adds: "The police in the UK want Warren the second he gets out of jail in Holland.
"However, there have been falling-outs between a lot of old friends and the criminal landscape on Merseyside is very different to the one which Curtis knew when he was arrested in October 1996."
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