definition of "narconóminas"

Question

In translating an article fromMundodeHoy.com I came across the following sentence that I couldn't translate. "En la operación se hallaron narconóminas de las autoridade". I don't understand whether "narconóminas" refers to pay received by narcotics gang members or whether it is a list of their names as in a payroll. I also cannot find a definition of "autoridade". Is it misspelled, i.e., autoridades or is there a reason for the spelling?

Gracias por su ayuda.

Jim

Answer 1

Hi, Jim. As you know it is common to put "narco" in front of nouns that refer to transactions or purchases funded by drug money. Thus, you will read about "narcomansiones", "narcoiglesias", narcocatedrales", and - in your question - "narconóminas". As you know, "nómina" refers to a "payroll", so this sentence refers to "autoridades" (your version is missing the final "s") who are funded by drug money. I would take it that police or other authorities are either being paid off by a cartel or are working for a cartel.