Escape from controlled custody is the basically the same no matter where you are, the only question is how much depth the defenses have, the likelyhood of being busted by the gaurds, and how agressive the perimeter is (2KV on a fence, land mines, five mile swim, dogs, yeah, that kind of thing will make think twice). You need both patience and speed, guile, stealth, misdirection, razzle dazzle, ruthlessness and intelligence. Otherwise you get holed by who ever is on duty.

As layer one, how about something like the gadget pen Duluth Trading had here . Several varieties of concealable lock picks.

Add to it a length of tech cord, say 4mm, stitched in along them hem of your traveling jacket- 300kg test isn't steel, but it isn't fishline either. Similiarly, you can stash a few ounces of weight in each end of a silk scarf (embroidered at the ends to hide the weight visually)- use it like a manriki gusari.

Have a cobbler resole your shoes/boots, and see if he can give you some space inside the heel to carry a two or three gold soverigns or something similar, then attach the insole so it has to be cut away to get to the compartment- don't waste time with hollywood-esque sliding heels. You can also put other items in such a compartment. Always, always, always, composite toe shoes or boots.

If you have patches on your jacket or pack, you can put small items under them. With the 'cro patches that are so in vogue now, it's even easier becuase the loop side is stiff.

A can of spray deoderant, travel size. It's almost as effective as pepper spray.

Learn to limp. If I have to, I can make it look like my knee is permanently screwed up rather than being all better by a lot of years. That gives me a cane- not a cane gun or a sword stick, just a cane with a hook top on it. In the hands of someone with a bad limp and a face that looks like they are in pain- not a problem, you turn your back on them. Oops.

If you smoke, carry a spare pack. Learn how to seal the pack in a way that makes it look like wasn't cut open. Even if they do open it, have your toys under cut off filters.

A needle file is thin enough it can concealed in the seam of something like a cowboy boot- the triangluar ones can be used to cut and shank as well as file.

And if you want to get really funky, look up the CIA escape and evasion kit. The container was very smooth and about the size of a cigar tube- one guess as to the last ditch concealment method. A couple of knife blades, a couple of files, a drill, an awl, and handle that did double duty as a pair of wire snips and a light duty prybar. I'd pull a blade and a file, and throw in a ferrorod, some waxed braided cord, a tension bar and a rake pick.

False bottoms in luggage are of questionable value. They deter pick pockets and naughty baggage mishandlers, but someone making a determined search, forget it. It's too well known, you segregate your barter items from their luggage.